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1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  CAPTIVITY 


STEPHEisT  Williams; 


WHO 


WAS   TAKKN    BY    THE    FRENCH    AND    INDIANS   AT    DkERFIFLD, 

Febru.irv  2:),  1703-4.  .       ' 


WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Introduction,  .  .  ' ..  -3 

Cavtivity  ok  Stephen  Williams,  ...  5 

Attack  on  the  Families  ok  Wells  and  Broughton,  ,       13 

Captivity  ok  Daniel  Belding,         .        ■  .  14 

John  Allen  and  Wi^-e  Killed,  '-  .  .  17 

Indian  Depredations,  1704-8,  .  .  .17 

Captivity  of  Mahltman  Hinsdale  .  .  18 

Capt.   r^ENjAMiN  Wright's  Scout  to  Shambly,  .      20 

Capt.  Thomas  Baker's  Scout  to  Cowass.       '  ,  22 

Indian  Raid.s  on  the  Frontiek,   1710-24,  .  .       25 

Lieut.  Timothy  Cuils^s  \V(iUNJ.'ED  in  Delrfield  Meadows,     26 
Deacon  Samuel  Field  ^V'■ouNDED  at  Greenfield,      .  27 

Letter  from  Svephen  Williams  to  Prksidknt  Wheelock,      27 
Notes  by  the  Editor,  .  ,  .28 

Atherton's  Letter,  where  is  it  ?  .  .     34 


WHAT  BEFELL 


STEPHEN  WILLIAMS 


IN  HIS  CAPTIVITY. 


WITH  AN  APPENDIX. 


PRINTED    KROM    THK    ORIC.TNAI,    BY    THE 


POCUMTUCK    VALLEY    MEMORIAL   ASSOCIA- 
TION. 


Stephkn   was   a  s<7n   of   Rev.   John  Williams,   "  Rldeemed  Captive,"  and 
WAS  taken  prisoner  at  Deerfikld,  Feb.  29,  1703-4. 


Edited  by  GEORGE  SHELDON. 


DEERFIELD,  MASS. 
1889. 


Coi'VRir.HTED,    1889, 

Hy  Pocumtuck  Vallky  Mkmoriai.  Assdciviion. 
Aix  Rkjiitk  Rksehvei). 


tRINTRD    3Y    K.    A.    HALL  ft   CO., 
GREENFIELD,   MASS. 


U- 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  aecounl  of  Steplien  Williams's  captivity  has  been  called  a 
journal,  but  it  is  not  a  diary  of  events  recorded  day  by  day.  It 
bears  internal  evidence  of  having  been  written  by  the  captive  boy 
after  his  return,  and  before  1700,  The  ori<?lnal  manuscript  was  giv- 
en to  our  Association  by  his  lineal  descendant.  Miss  Eunice  Stcbbins 
Doij^gett  of  Chicago.  In  iierintere8tinglet'^er,tran8inittingit  through 
Miss  0.  Alice  Baker,  she  speaks  of  it  as  a  "precious  document, 
which,  from  my  first  glimpse  of  it,  I  felt  should  go  to  the  P.  V. 
M.  Association  for  safe  keeping." 

The  manuscript,  in  brown  paper  cover,  on  which  is  written  by 
another  hand,  "Account  of  the  Captivity  of  Revd.  Doctor  Williams, 
wrote  by  himself,"  covers  sixteen  closely  written  pages,  nearly  six 
by  three  and  one-half  inches  in  size.  Through  the  liberality  of 
Charles  Deane,  LL.D.,  of  Cambridge,  the  contents  are  now  put 
into  a  useful  and  permanent  form. 

Rev.  Dr.  Stephen  Williams  was  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Williams, 
the  "Redeemed  Captive,"  He  was  born  at  Deerfield,  May  14,  1693; 
taken  captivu  P\^bruary  21),  1703-4;  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1713; 
was  settled  minister  of  Longmeadow,  in  1710;  was  interpreter  for 
Governor  Belcher  in  tlie  treaty  made  by  him  with  the  Indians,  at 
Deertield,  August,  1735;  was  chaplain  under  Sir  William  Pepperell 
in  the  Louisburg  expedition  in  1740;  and  the  Canada  land  cam- 
paigns of  1 755,  under  Sir  Willliam  Johnson,  and  1756,  under  Gen. 
Winslow.  He  died  at  Longmeadow,  June  10,  1782,  aged  eighty- 
nine. 

The  don(;r  of  this  relic  is  descended  from  Stephen  Williams, 
through  his  daughter  Eunice,  born  September  1,  1733,  who  mar- 
ried. May  1,  1753,  William  Stebbins  of  Longmeadow.  Their 
dangliter,  Eunice  Stebbins,  married  Rev.  Joseph  Barker  of  Middle- 
boro.  Eunice  Barker,  their  daughter,  and  Elkanah  Doggett,  mar- 
ried in  1816,  were  the  parents  of  Eunice  Stebbins  Doggett. 

A  portion  of  the  papers  given  in  the  Appendix  have  been  print- 
ed in  a  mutilated  form.  All  are  now  given  verbatim — save  the 
substitution  of  capitals  at  the  beginning  of  sentences — from  the 


IntrodttcHon. 

original  manuscript  of  Stephen  Williams,  and  arc  a  valnable  ad- 
dition to  local  history. 


y^'l^/^^^^      ^rU^Mi/'i't 


Deertield,  March  16,  1889. 


WHAT  BEFELL    STEPHEN  WILLIAMS    IN    HIS 

CAPTIVITY. 

On  tlio  last  of  February  1  iof  the  Frencli  and  indiaiiB  eanif  <S! 
.-iirprisod  our  Fort  vfe  took  it,  and  aft<n-tliey  liad  broken  into  <»nr  bouse 
i\j.took  n8  prisoners,  they  HarbarioUHly  ninrdered  a  Brother  & 
Sister  of  mine,  as  tliey  did  Several  of  our  nei^bbonrff.  They  i-ith'd 
our  house  &  then  inarched  away  with  us  that  were  C'aptivw,  and 
set  our  house'  &  barn  alire,  as  they  did  y'  greatest  pai-t  of  y'  town, 
Wlien  y'  j^reatest  part  of  y"  enemy  were  g-one  out  )i  town  there 
came  some  PJnglish  from  y"  next  town''  y'  drove  th.^^c;  indiaiis  y'  re- 
mained in  y"  town  away,  but  they  were  quickly  driven  back  again 
by  the  rest  of  y"  Arniiw,  '.)  of  y""  were  slain  as  they  retreated. 
Then  they  marched  a  little  further  it  stoped  tor  they  had  sev- 
eral wounded  men  that  hindered  them.  Thtjre  they  tould  us  y'  if 
the  English  j.ersued  y'"  they  wonld  kill  us,  but  if  otherwyse  they 
would  not,  but  they  ([uickly  proved  y"'selves  lyars  for  before  tiuiy 
<](4)arted  from  y'  place  y  l)arbai-iously  murdered  a  chikl  of  about 
two  years  old. 

There  my  master  took  away  my  Englisli  shoes  and  gave  me  In- 
dian ones  in  y"  room  of  y"'  w"''  I  think   were  better  to  travail  in. 
Then  we    marched   5    or  6  miles    further  were    we  took  up  our 
Loduinir.     Then  one  English  man  run  back  to  Deerf:    which  pro- 
Yoked  y'"  nnich:  They  told  us  if  any  mo-e  ran  away  they  would  i)urn 
y'  rest.'    There  they  slew  our  negro  man.     They  next  morning  we 
'travailed  abont  2 or  3  miles  &  then  they  murdered  my  ever  honor- 
ed inothe'-  who  having  gone  over  a  smal  river  which  water  rnning 
very  swift  flung  her  down  She  being  wet  was  not  able  to  travail  any 
further.'     We  travailed  S  or  9  mile  further  <k  Lodged  y'  night. 
'There  some  (»f  us  were  Distributed  for  some  had  five  or  six  Captives 
&  others  none.     Then  they  called  y'  Captives  together  to   make 
a  more  Equal  Distribution,  but  1  remained  w"'  my  former  master. 
Here  they  searched  me  And  took  away  my  silver  buttons  &  buckels 
w""  I  had  on  my  shirt.     Before  we  came  to  a  small  river  named  y" 
westriver   about  thirty  miles  above  Deerf:  they  murdered  3  or  4 
uiore  persons.     W"  they  came  to  y"  west  river  ^  where  they  had  slays 
&  Dogs  w""  which  they  drew  there  wounded  men  they  travailed 


fl 


Wtat  Befell  Stephen  WiUiama  in  Mb  Captivity, 


(wc  thonglit)  iifi  iftlioy  Oiwlgned  to  kill  u.s  all  fur  yMravailod  35 
OH  40  iniies  a  (lav.*  TIumt  tlioy  killeil  thnir  a  duH/tMi  of  women  and 
OliildrtM),  for  thero  numnor  was  if  any  loitered  to  kill  y'".  My 
feet  were  very  sore  8o  y'  I  wac  afraid  tliey  would  kill  ine  also.  We 
rested  on  the  Sabbath  day:  they  »A\a  my  fatlier  liberty  to  preach.'" 
there  we  sanj?  a  psalm  for  they  retpiired  of  us  a  song. 

Y'  next  dsiy  we  travailed  a  great  way  farther  y"  we  had  at  any  time 
before.  About  the  middle  of  the  day  scMue  y'  were  in  y"  rere  tired  at 
some  Geeae  y'  tlcw  over  w'"'  put  y'"  into  a  couhiderable  fright,  for 
y'  thought  y"  English  were  come  up  w"'  y'",  then  they  began  to  bind 
the  [»risoners  and  to  prepare  y'"8olvrt  for  battle,  but  w"  they  under- 
stood w'  y  matter  wa?  they  shot  a  volly  for  joy,  l)oasting  y'  y' 
English  could  not  overtake  y'"-  T  coming  to  my  lion:  Father  he 
told  mc  he  was  taken  lamo  in  his  Ankel  w'Hie  sprained  in  y"  fall  of 
y"  year,  he  said  likewise  he  thought  he  should  be  killed,  &  if  I 
shoidd  live  to  got  to  Canada  to  tell  y"'  who  1  was  ttc,  w"''  then  did 
terrific  me  much,  but  it  pleased  (i.  to  strenthen  him  to  perform  his 
journey.  The  next  day  was  a  tempestuous  day  tfe  I  froze  my  great 
toe  of  my  left  foot.  The  day  after  w"*"  was  Wednesday  my  master 
bid  me  go  down  to  y"  river  w*  him  (very  early  In  f  morning)  w'*' 
startled  me  for  he  did  not  use  to  be  so  early.  There  y'  river  part- 
ed &  I  went  up  one  branch,  my  father  w""  my  brs.  &  sisters  the 
other.  I  never  saw  my  father  for  14  months  after.  I  did  not  eat 
anything  iny"  morning  yet  must  travail  all  tlay,  yt>a  I  travailed  till 
about  ',)  o'clock  ot  night  vv"'out  one  morsel  of  victual,  i  travailed 
about  50  mile  y'  day  and  night:  for  my  supper  I  had  one  spoonfuU 
of  Indian  corn;  in  y°  jnorning  5  or  0  cornels,  but  must  travail. 
Then  we  left  the  river  and  travailed  till  about  noon  on  y"  west  side 
of  y'  river  and  y"  we  came  to  two  wigwams,  whore  were  sighns  of 
Indians  but  no  Indians,  (in  these  wigwams  they  left  y'  packs  and 
went  a  hunting  if  perhaps  y^  might  find  somenxouse  buried  in  y" 
snow  by  y"  hunting  Indians,  but  C(»uld  hot  find  any.  I  waiulered 
about  *fe  lost  myself  ct  llellowed,  my  master  come  t(t  me  tfe  was 
very  angr;/  w""  me  threatened  to  kill  me,  \\v  lift  up  the  breech  of 
his  gun  in  order  thereto,  Hut  God  kept  lack  his  hand,  fo!"  w""  I  de- 
sire his  name  might  be  praised.  Y'  indiai's  will  never  allow  any- 
body to  Hollow  in  y"  woods.  Y'  maimer  is  to  make  a  noise  like 
wolves  or  any  other  wild  creatures,  when  they  would  call  to  ono 
another, 

My  master  sent  y"  indian  lad  &  I  to  those  wigwams  but  he  him- 
self took  his  gun  &  went  out  a  hunting,  (now  y'  were  only  we 


I 


What  Befell  Stephen  WiUnms  ni  hix  Cfi)>i'lvihj.  7 

thr.'.'   in    comj.aHv,  wv  !i;t«l   l.-t't    all  y*  army)     Wc    ina.lo   a    liiv, 
hut  had  no  vitiials  to  tlrcss,  only  a  inuusi-  pauncli  w"  y  iiuiitinj;  iii- 
.liim.s  had  left.     Wo  tooU  y  paunch  and  hoilod  \v"'out  dressing'  of  it, 
I,, I  w'  wuH  in  it  served   for  thickoninj,'  y"  broth.     Tlu^rc  nvo  parsed 
y'  uiijlit  and  y"  noxt  day  till  alx.nt  noon,  thon  there  cotnu  an  indian 
i^irl  iV  hroujrht  U8  fionie  mouses  njeat  dryed,  W'l  thought  was  f 
r,e.4  victualf4  ever  I  eat.     We  travailed  with  y'  indian  girl  about  10 
iuileis  were  was  two  wi«.w;ims.      My  muHter  y'  left  us  y"  day  before 
waK  gi)t  there,  whHes  we  tarried  hero  y'  french  y'  were  in  y*  army 
pasHod  by.     Within  a  day  or  two  we  travailed  seven  or  eight  mil- 
northward  to  a  place  where  they  liad  Uilled  aoine  tnocjHe:  where  they 
iiiudc  wigsvanirt  (for  \'  maimer  wis  when  they  killed  any  moose  to 
move  to  y"  A'  ly  by  y"'  till  f  had  eathen  y'"  np.)     Now  there  was 
two  Engiishmen  of    our  town  in  company  w'"  me,   who  eaine  up 
from  y"  Army,  to  wit    Deacon   lloit"  <k  one  jaenb  Ilix,  a  souldier. 
(now  luy  masier  was  not  yet  eoiru)  to  his  own  family,  from  hence 
he  w(!tit.  to  look  for  his  family  tfe  within  a  day  or  two  sent  for  me. 
I  thought  tlii.s  v.-as  liavd  to  g(.  away  alone  (y'  is  to  any  English  per- 
suiis)   "ll(Mv  I  left  Deacon  lloit  ^    .1    II.     Deacon   Uoit  T   never 
Raw  more  for  Ik;  Was  dead   before  1  cairie  from  hunting)     I  went 
w"'  V''  messenger  and  after  a  tedious  days  travail  wo  came  to  my 
mtister  family.     He  gave  mc  to  his  br.  w"'  whom  I  continued  2  or 
M  months   thereabonts  hunting    nu)08e,  bears,  tfe  ^ea^'ers,  (but  w"  I 
lirst  arrived  here  they  were  extraordinary  kvid   took  care  of  my 
toe  y*  was  frozen,  would  not  suffer  me  toony  work,  gave  me  a  dear 
8kin  to  ly  on  &  a  bears  8k.>..  to  cover  me  withall,  but  this  did  r.ot  last 
long,  for  I  was  forced  to  carrj  such  a  pack  w"  1  travailed  y^  I  could 
not  rise  up  without  some  help,  was  forced  to  cut  wood  cfe  c;arry  it 
sometimes  a  consideral)le  way  on   my  Back.     After  y'  manner  1 
lived  till  y"  hunting  time  was  over,  without  any  society  but  y"'  in- 
human pagans.     Y'^    we  travailed   with  a  design  to  go  to  Cow  ass, 
where  was  y"  rendezvouze  but  before  we  had  got  quite  there  we 
met  some  Indians  y'  stopt  us,  they  told  us  y*  all  y^  Indians  were 
coming  away  from  Cowass  w'''  within  a  day  or  two  canie  to   us. 
Now  y*^^  rt^son  of  there  deserting  y'^  land  was  this,  there  came  one 
Englishman  w"'  six  of  our  Indians'  6c  destroyed  a  family  of  Indi- 
ans about  20  miles  below  Cowass.)     Here  we  staid  where  these  In- 
dians met  us  a  month  or  six  weeks,  suffered  much  for  want  ])rovi- 
sion  for  there  was  not  much  to  be  got  a  hunting  then,  &  if  y' 
was  any  thing  it  was  as  nothing  amongst  so  many.     The  cheif  of 
our  provisions  was  roots  of  several  sorts,  &  bark  of  trees.     Here  1 


^■■1 


8 


What  Befell  Stephen  Williams  in  his  Couptimty. 


met  y"  above  said  jacol)  Ilix.  Deacon  Iloit  aviib  already  dead  for 
want  of  provision,  this  liix  he  lookt  like  a  ghost,  was  nothing  but 
skin  &  bone  could  scarce  go  yet  had  no  victualn  but  w'  he  got  him- 
self, for  he  liad  been  o,t  Cowas  with  y"  indians  a  planting  corn 
where  he  suffered  much  for  nant  of  provisions)  I  was  better  of 
it  tha?i  they,  for  wliiles  I  was  hunting  we  had  meat  enough, 
but  neither  l)read  or  salt  to  oat  w'''  it.  Th<!re  was  in  company  now 
one  M"  Brydley  of  Haverhill,  &  one  hannah  eastman,  one  Daniel 
Ar<]cry  of  Haverhill,  tfe  one  M"  Jones  k,  Margaret  Iliggens,  her 
rnaid.  who  were  taken  at  Noi-thampton  fiu'iTis.' 

Now  from  jience  we  set  away  for  Canada,  my  master  had  so 
much  lumber  to  carry  y*  we  were  forced  to  carry  a  pack  a  mile  or 
two  and  go  back  and  fetch  another,  w*^^''  was  /ery  tedious,  Jacob 
Hix  died  at  the  first  carrying  place  of  y*^  french  river.  This  was 
an  exceeding  tedious  march  to  me  we  being  so  loadcn,  the  other 
indians  left  us,  I  suffered  much  in  this  journey,  for  when  we  came 
to  y  frencli  river  it  was  as  much  as  our  canoe  would  carry  ou"  lum- 
ber, y*"  water  Avas  so  shallow,  so  y*  I  was  forced  to  travail  afoot  on 
ye  bank  without  any  shoes.  My  feet  were  much  galled  and  one 
or  two  of  my  toes  almost  cut  of  v»^ith  y''  stones,  I  had  little  or 
any-thing  to  eat.  My  master  killed  a  duck  one  day  in  the  rive-  & 
for  my  part  I  had  y"^  guts  whicl\  I  laid  on  ye  coals  without  clean- 
ing y"'  which  seemed  a  sweot  morF  o  me,  they  did  oat  skins  &c., 
but  w"  we  arrived  at  y''  Lake  we  Wo^-e  stipplyed  witb'  fish  &  fowl, 
for  there  is  a  great  nund)or  both  of  fl-^h  "c  fowl,  The  Indian  boys 
do  kill  the  (Toese  with  there  bows  &  arrows  they  are  so  bould. 
Fish  can  be  easily  taken  with  luioks,  one  day  ar,  we  sayled  on  y" 
lake  two  young  indian  shot  a  fish  with  a  'oullei  &  took"  it  into  y" 
canoe,  it  wjis  as  large  as  1  am.  I  arrived  at  Chamble  in  August 
w''  Avas  about  half  a  y*i';)A'  from  y'  time  I  was  taken,  The  french 
was  kind  to  me,  gave  me  bread  m  hich  I  had  not  eaten  iir  a  great 
while.  They  told  "me  my  Father  &  brothers  &  sisters  was  got  to 
Canada  which  I  was  glad  to  hear  of  for  I  was  afraid  my  youngest 
brother  was  killed.  AV^hiies  I  tarried  here  a  Frenchman  came  & 
desired  y"  indians  to  let  me  go  with  him,  which  they  did,  I  went 
w"'  y''  frenchman  wlio  gave  me  some  vituals,  &  made  me  ly  down 
in  his  couacli,  which  iriy  masters  son  perceiving  told  his  father 
who  thought  be  did  it  to  hide  me  ife  did  vlesighn  to  steal  me,  upon 
which  he  came  A;  fet(;ht  me  away  and  would  not  let  mo  go  to  the 
fort  any  more  for  which  I  suffered,  (wliiles  I  war.  here  y"  french 
dressed  my  feet  y'  were  wounded  at  which  y"  indians  seemed  to  be 


What  Befell  Stephen  WilUams  m  Ms  Captivity,  9 

vext.)  From  here  wo  went  towards  Sorel — but  tarried  a  day  or  two 
near  at  frencli-inans  house  about  3  mile  from  ShamWe,  who  was 
kind  to  me  &  would  have  lodged  me  in  his  liouse  but  y''  indians  would 
not  allow  it  mistrusting  he  would  convey  me  away  in  y"  night  pri- 
vately— From  iionce  we.  went  to  Sorel  &  as  soon  as  we  had  landed, 
tliere  came  a  H'oman  a  crost  y"  river  oa  purpose  to  bring  me  soihe 
vituals  &  seemed  to  pity  me,  here  we  tarried  a  day  or  two,  my 
master  bid  me  to  go  to  y®  fort  a  visiting  w''  was  about  four  score 
rod  off.  I  went  tfe  at  a  frenchmans  porswasiou  tarried  all  night  «fe 
till  next  day  a1)out  noon,  when  my  master  came  for  nie,  he  was 
very  angry  with  me  &  after  y*-  would  never  auffer  me  to  go  to  a 
french  house  alone.  From  this  place  we  went  to  st  francis  y" 
iiidian  fort.  My  master  could  not  compl}^  with  y  rites  &  customs, 
wliereupon  lie  went  to  Albany,  &,  gave  me  to  his  kinsman  Saciia- 
rnore  George'"*  (now  this  George  when  he  was  at  Cowas  told  y° 
fre'ich  governour  y'  I  was  his  prisoner,  whereas  he  had  then  noth- 
ing to  do  with  m.e,  whereupon  y''  governour  empowered  one  Mr: 
Shamble  a  captain  to  buy  me  who  made  a  bargain  w^''  George,  give 
him  earnest  money.)  now  being  put  in^c  his  hands  he  was  not  will- 
nig  y*^  y"  french  should  know  it.  But  having  a  desire  to  go  to 
Shamble  y''  place  where  Monsi.ar  Shamble  lived  took  ine  witli 
liim,  bu  .vithin  ten  miles  of  Shamble  left  me  alone  in  y°  woods, 
while  ho  w'**  those  y*  were  w*''  him  went  to  S.'amble.  After  he 
came  from  Shamble  we  went  a  h.unting,  caught  about  30  beavour 
in  y®  brooks  which  run  into  ye  river  bet'.vixt  Shamble  and  Sorel; 
after  we  liad  done  hunting  we  went  again  to  k:t  francis  fort  were  I 
continued  till  towards  spring,  &  then  removed  because  y"  small 
pox  was  among  y''  indians  &  my  masters  children  had  not  had  it, 
so  y*  he  moved. 

But  whiles  1  coiitinned  there'  tnonsiur  Shamble  heard  y*  I  was 
w^*"  Sagomore  Gecrge,  &  came  to  buy  me,  I  seemed  to  be  willing 
to  go  w'*"  him,  at  which  the  indians  were  much  distunbed  &  would 
liot  let  me  go  because  1  showed  a  forwardness  to  go,  &  did  likewise 
threaten  to  kill  me,  did  complain  to  y"  Jesuit  wlio  came  &  said  to 
me,  what  no  love  Indian  tliey  ha\  e  saved  your  life  &c. 

It  is  no  wonder  y'  children  y^  are  small  will  not  speaK  o  y' 
friends  when  y^'  come  to  see  to  y™,  l^t  they  will  scofe  and  deride 
y"',  because  y'^  indians  have  taught  tliem  so,  will  be  angry  if  they 
do  otherwise. 

Whiles  I  lived  here  I  observed  y*  some  English  children  would 

*This  numeral,  and  similar  preceding  ones,  refer  to  notes  in  the  Appendix. 


10 


What  Befell  Stephen  WUUams  in  his  Cwptivitn/. 


f' 


seofu  at  me  (when  before  y''  indiaiis  whorse  than  y"  Indian  children, 
but  when  abne  they  would  talk  familiarly  with  me  in  English  about 
y'  own  country  etc.,  whereas  w"  before  ,y"  Indians  they  would  pre- 
tend they  could  not  speak  eTio-lish,  Here  the  Indiana  did  say  some- 
thing to  me  about  religion  but  not  nmclu  being  eastern  Indians 
were  not  zealous  as  y°  macquas  are.  [i  w*''  a  young  warrier  .fee.?] 

The  french  governor  after  he  heard  1  was  in  y^  country,  (because 
of  my  father's  entreties)  was  often  sending  to  y*^  indians  to  buy  me 
whs  were  quite  wearied  out  because  of  y"  many  messages  he  sent. 
Y*^  governor  was  not  willing  to  give  above  30  crowns  w''era8  tbey 
stood  for  40.     At  length  because  wearied  out  my  master  v;ent  to 
ye  jesu:*''  ife  got  j;)en  ink  &  paper  «fe  would  have  me  to  write  to  my 
father  (for  we  had  heard  y'  he  was  turned  &  had  200  pounds  a 
year  allowed  him  which  I  believe  some  of  y'"  believed)  after  he 
had  got  paper  he  takes  another  Indian  with  hiu)  y*  could  speak 
good  Lngli&h  who  was  to  indite  for  me— y''  substance  of  y""  letter 
was  this  (j^  if  he  did  not  buy  me  before  spring  they  would  not  sell 
me  afterwards  &  y*  he  must  give  40  crowns  for  me)  they  carrried 
it  to  y  Jesuit  who  could  speak  English  to  read,  to  see  whether.  I 
had  vvritten  as  y^'  oi'dered  me  tfe  w"  they  found  I  had  they  were 
well  pleased.     My  master  liad  a  mind  to  go  a  hunting  &  would 
have  taken  we  with  him,  but  because  he  had  sent  such  word  (y* 
they  must  buy  by  such  a  time)  he  left  me  at  home  y^  I  might  l)e 
ready  i/  they  should  send  to  bay  me.     And  when  captain  living- 
stone"  and  Mr.  Sheldon'"  where  come  to  Canada  my  mistriss  thought 
there  would  be  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  lest  the  french  should 
then  take  me  away  for  nothing  she  removed  up  in  y''  woods  about 
half  a  mile  from  y'^  river,  y*  if  they  came  they  might  not  find  ^ne. 
Whiles  on  a  certain  day  my  mistress  weiit  to  a  french  house  to  get 
vituals,  and  ordered  me  to  spend  this  day  in  getting  wood,  but  it 
proved  a  tempestuous  day  &  we  had  half  a  cart  load  of  wood  at  y'' 
door  (which  is  a  great  deal  for  indians  to  have)  so  y*  I  did  n'>t  get 
any.    When  she  came  home  (being  disturbed  by  y"  french)  asked 
v/liat  1  had  been  doing,  t;.hey  replied  nothing,  at  which  she  was  very 
angry.     I  will  notlieat  you  myself  (says  she)  for  my  husband  or- 
dered me  to  the  contrary,  but  will  tell  y"  Jesuit,  y*'  nexftime  he 
comes  (i    w  y^"  were  liot  gone  so  far  but  that  y*^  Jesuit  knew  where 
they  W(    r,  who  often  visits  y'")     Within  a  day  or  two,  y«  Jesuit 
comes,  sne  was  as  good  as  h-^r  word,  did  complain  ;  he  rakes  nie  out 
and  whips  m-  witii  a  whip  w"'  six  cords  several  knots  in  each  cord. 
After  a  few  days  lie  comes  again  &  brings  me  a  letter  from  my 


What  Befell  Stephen  Willia/ms  m  his  Captivity .  11 


i)e 


Father  bj'  wieli  I  understood  he  was  a  prisoner  as  well  as  I,  which 
1  told  y®  Indians,  they  said  they  Itclioved  it.  ITe  likcwiso  said  in 
his  letter  y*  y"  governor  of  New  Eng:  would  take  care  we  sliould 
he  redeemed. 

Whilst  I  lived  here  I  made  about  fourscore  weight  of  sugar  w"' 
y*'  sap  of  maple  trees  for  y®  Indians.  My  ralstresr  had  a  mind  to 
go  to  Sorel  &  because  y''  was  a  barrel  of  sap  to  boil  she  sent  me  to 
y''  sugar  place  over  night  to  boil  it,  y*^  so  she  might  go  in  y'  morn- 
ing. I  went  and  kept  a  good  fire  under  y'^  kettle,  little  thinking  of 
its  coming  to  sugar,  till  it  was  spoiled  for  want  of  stirring,  for  y^ 
manner  is  to  stir  it  when  it  conies  almost  to  sugar;  for.  which  they 
were  very  angry  &  would  not  give  me  any  vituals; — -It  being  now 
spring  we  went  in  canoes  to  Sorel,  &  soon  as  we  got  there  y"^  wom- 
an y'  brought  me  vituals  across  y''  river  when  I  was  there  before, 
came  &  desired  y"  Indians  to  let  me  go  to  y"  fort,  w'*'  y^'  consented 
to;  I  went  l)ut  remembering  y^  bad  eifect  of  tarrying  all  night  l)o- 
for-j  durst  not  do  so  again,  without  y'-  indians  leave.  I  went  to  y'' 
Indians  (and  carried  y'"  some  vituals)  <k  asked  y"'  to  let  me  ly  at  y'' 
fort  which  they  granted.  I  kept  Ijere  about  a  fortnight  &  lay  at  y'' 
fort  every  night.  The  french  were  vcy  kind  provided  vituals  for 
me  &  would  give  me  some  to  carry  to  y*^^  indians,  M'hich  pleased  y'" 
well;  As  we  went  back  to  st  francis  fort  we  met  a  french  canoe 
who  told  us  y'  the  french  governour  would  come  to  st  francis  fort 
(piickly,  upon  w^''  my  mistress  said  to  me  your  time  is  short  you 
have  to  live  with  me.  (truly  I  hoped  it  was)  When  we  came  to  st 
francis  we  went  to  inasters  island  where  I  began  to  make  prepara- 
tions to  plant  corn,  but  before  wf  began  to  plant  the  governour 
came  &  bought  me  after  a  long  parley,  for  40  crowns.  "With  him 
[  went  to  8orel  where  I  met  with  captain  Livingstone  <fe  several 
captives.  Oapt.  Livingstone  told  me  I  should  go  home  to  N.  E. 
with  him  w''  revived  me  very  much  to  think  of  going  home,  but 
the  governour  quickly  altered  his  mind,  said  I  must  not  go.  From 
hence  I  went  down  lo  Quebec  w*^''  y"  lord  intendant.  When  I 
came  to  Quebec  I  found  several  English  people  y*  wei'e  prisoners 
there.  One.  Mrs.  Hill  took  care  of  me  cut  my  hair  for  me  (now 
my  hair  wjis  like  an  Indian  one  side  long  and  the  othe."  short).  She 
got  me  a  shirt  &  a  pair  of  b/eeches  &  a  jacket  &  stockings  &c  for  me. 
From  hence  (.n  y«  11  of  Mav  I  was  sent  to  live  with  my  father  at 
Chatauriche'"'  while  I  lived  here  y''  french  were  very  courteous  & 
kind  to  me  as  they  were  to  my  Father.  This  seemed  almost  home 
to  me,  because  I  was  got  to  my  Father,  who  I  had  not  seen  for  14 


12 


What  Befell  Stephen  Williams  in  hia  Captivity. 


months.  When  Mr.  Dudley"  came  to  Canada  my  father  &  I  was 
sent  up  to  Quebeek.  Wlien  we  were  at  Quebeck  Captain  Courte- 
marche"  took  us  to  his  house,  entained  us  very  nobly,  he  said  bo 
received  kindness  at  N.  E.  Whiles  we  were  at  Qub:  the  Seminary 
a  famous  building  was  ])urnt,  &  uyon  Mr,  Dudley,  &  captain 
Yetcb,"  petitioning,  y''  governour  ojave  me  liberty  to  come  hoaie 
and  accordingly  I  came  away  on  y*"  12  of  October  1705  (but  I  left 
my  Honoured  Father  tt  brs.  &  sisters  behind)  &  after  a  tedious 
voyage  I  arrived  safe  at  Boston  in  New  EtjghiTid,  which  was  on  y° 
21  of  November  1705".  And  1  desire  that  the  name  of  God  may 
be  praised  &  adored  for  his  wonderful  goodness  to  me  in  sparing 
my  life  when  I  was  as  it  were  at  y"  Brink  of  eternity  &  that  he 
stayed  y"  hands  of  those  y*^  took  up  y'  weapons  to  slay  me  with, 

finis. 
N.  B.  That  while  with  Indians  1  was  in  Great  Danger  of  being 
drowned  several  times. 

[The  postscript  was  evidently  written  at  a  later  period  than  the  body 
of  the  narrative.] 


f-#, 


APPENDIX. 

[Notes  and  stories  found  among  the  papers  of  Stephen  Williams, 
whicli,  with  the  exception  of  a  single  sheefc^  are  in  his  own  hand  writ- 
ing of  about  1 731.] 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  SOME  ANCIENT  THINGS. 

[Murderous  attack  on  the  families  of  Thomas  Broughton  and  wid. 
Hepzibah  Wells'*"  June  6,  1693.] 

Y*'  suspect''  mischief  before  Broughton  &;  Wells  family  &  Capt. 
Wells  laid  in  w"'  Cii^^awak  to  find  out  w'  was  doing  &  he  suspect'' 
it,  but  c**  get  nothing. 

Several  Indians  trading  liv'^  over  the  river  at  Carters  Land  &  Jnno 
6,  1693,  in  y^  n'  abt  midnight  y^  came  upon  y"'  &  kill''  Thomas 
Broughton  &  his  wife  and  xdren  8,  &  scalped  8  of  y''  widow  Wells'" 
Daughters  (Lan'  laid  asleep  in  y*^  chamber  not  hurt  &  Nath'  Kel- 
logue''"  jump''  out  of  Mrs.  Wells  chamber  window  &  escaped)  2  di'' 
of  y""  w''"  &  y"  3''  Jived,  &  one  Holmes  laid  in  y*  chamber  at  B.  &  saw 
y'"  and  heard  y"  people  plead  for  y'' lives,  the  man  plead''  ii  his  own  life 
might  not  be  spar''  his  xdren  might.  Y^  answered  in  indian,  we  don't 
care  for  y'=  xden  &  will  kill  y'"  all,  and  Holmes"  lay  still  and  escap**. 

jyjrs  "WTQiig  y;-jig  from  home  w"'  a  sick  child  &  ventur''  there  w"' 
it  before  the  people  went  w***  her  [&  then  she  returned,  having  hid 

her  xdren erased]  &  took  care  of  y  xdren  &  then  hid  herself 

no  body  came  till  break  of  y''  day.  [No  expert  has  been  able  to  say 
with  certainty  that  tlie  above  story  of  Mrs.  Wells'  night  of  horror  has 
been  correctly  deciphered.    The  same  is  true  of  the  next  sentence.] 

Kellogue  escap'',  a  Beam  hung  [or  being]  in  y"  chamber  w'^''  y** 
indian  run  ag"'  &  Beat  him  back. 

Some  of  y*  indians  came  into  y*^  Town  in  y'  morning  &  y"  En- 
ghsh  sent  for  y''  young  capt  and  Cliedaw  w"'  y"  indians  deliver''  np 
&  y®  wound''  [  ]  Mary  (Wells)"  accus''  Chedaw,  &  he  trembling 
&  quivering  deny**  it,  &  Broughton  accus'^  y*^  jo^ng  capt.  he  deny'' 
it.  T.  Broughton  liv'  a  day  or  2  &  dy''.  Ashpelon'"  s''  y'  y"  young 
woman  did  not  talk  ling  [talk  ?]  as  if  she  was  iit  to  give  an  evidence — 
she  seem'*  distracf.    These  2  accus''  were  car''  to  Springf ''  &  putt  into 


S' 


^ ,  \ 


14 


Apjmi^ix. 


cnstody,"  but  broke  away  from  prison  by  y'  lielp  of  some  Dutchmen 
as  was  tho't  y'  came  y'  to  see  y'",  &  all  y''  bunting  indiaiis  drew  off; 
from  that  time  'twas  suppos'^  y^'  those  y*  did  y''  mischief  were  some 
Canada  indians  principally,  but  y'  some  of  y''  hunting  indians  had 
join'-  w"'  y'",  but  y'  y''  generality  of  y''  trading  indians  were  igno- 
rant of  it,  cfe  I  remend)er  w'  my  Indian  mistress  s''  to  me  ab'  it. 

[The  following  is  a  fragment,  but  as  it  refers  to  the  above  tragedy, 
it  is  given  a  place  for  what  it  is  worth  on  the  chance  that  some  one 
may  be  able  to  interpret  it.] 

One  of  the  persons  kill''  aste''  from  one  y'  had  him  in  custody,  by 
N.  Uellett,  y''  fellow  had  gived  out  insulting  wrd  w"  in  diink  ct 
had  conspired  w"'  y*-"  french  at  y'^  great  falls,  this  before  B.  Ar  Welle 
family  cut  oif,  &  tho't  to  be  an  occasion  of  it  it;  w"  Warwelets  son 
was  killed  by  Seaost  {I)  or  Taidvlin  (?)  and  anothei'  man  at  Merri- 
mak  {()  river  spos''  to  be  an  occasion. 

[Joseph  I'arnard'-"  shot  Aug.  21,  1695.] 

Joseph  Barnard,  Henry  White,  Philip  Maltoon  [Mattoon)  God- 
frey Nima,  going  to  mill,  came  to  the  place  att  y'  Drain'^"  &  their 
horse  snuthng  ik,  being  fright*',  one  of  y'"  cry''  out  indians!  indians! 
&  y^'  turned  ab'  tfe  y*"  indians  fir''  upon  y"'  &  wound''  Mr.  Barnard  in 
left  hand  (one  wrist  broke  to  pieces)  oneBidlet  in  y"  body,  his  horse 
shot  down  <fe  then  N.  took  him  up,  tfe  his  horse  shot  down,  &  then 
he  was  mounted  behind  M.  and  came  of  home. 

Capt.  W[ells"  the  commander  of  the  fort|  y*^  n^  before,  was  con- 
cerned ab'  Indians  y*"  n'  before,  ifec''  not  sleep  &  tho't  he  w'' take  care 
to  prevent  it,  <Sz,  went  out  to  stop  tneso  men, but  seeing  Mr.  B.  tho't  him 
a  prudent  man,  &  let  them  go.    -[Mr.  Barnard  died  Sept.  G,  1695.] 

CAPTIVITY  OF  DANIEL  BELDING. 

T^'  16,1696,  John  Smead  &  John  Gillett  being  in  the  woods, 
looking  or  tracking  Bees,  were  besett  by  a  company  of  French  Mo- 
lAwks.  J.  G,  was  taken  prisoner  &  J.  S.  escaped — the  indians  fear- 
ing a  discovery  by  S.  16  of  them  hastetied  away  towards  the  town,  and 
three  were  left  with  J.  G.  It  being  lecture  day  the  people  were  got  out 
of  y'^  meadows,  that  so  y^'  might  attend  y''  lecture,  so  that  y'^  enemy 
came  as  far  as  Mr.  Dan'  Beldings  house,"  that  was  within  gun  shot  of 
y'"  fort.  Mr.  B.  being  belaf'  a'''  his  work'was  but  just  got  home  f""  the 
Fiealdstfe  left  his  cart  (y'  was  baded  w*''corn)  ik  went  into  y^'  house 
&  left  his  y^'  xdren  w"'  y'  cai-t,  &  y"  indians  rushed  upon  them  &  took 
him  prisoner  &  his  son  Nath'  ag''  22  years  of  age  &  his  daughter  Es- 
ther age  13  years  &  kill''  his  wife  &  his  sons  Daniel  &  John  &  his 


Append/ix. 


it 


(laiiijliter  Thankful,  &  one  of  y'"  took  I:is  son  Sam'  from  the  cart,  but 
lie  kick ''  &  scratdi''  <k  bit,  so  that  y"  intlian  set  him  down  «fe  struck  y" 
Q{\»p  of  his  hatchet  into  y"  side  of  Ids  liead;  lie  twich''  twice  or  thrice 
to  pull  it  out  and  so  left  him  for  dead  [illegible]  &  as  he  came  to  him- 
self he  look''  up  &  saw  y"'  runidng  fr'"  him.  Bled  considerably  &, 
brains  came  out  at  y"  wonnd  «fe  went  in  a  niaz''  condition  towards  y" 
Fort,  til  he  came  toy''  little  bridge""  where  fell  off  &  was  carr''4<^  Mr; 
W"'"""  tfc  was  so  bad  as  left  for  dead,  but  it  pleas'  god  hie  life  was  spar- 
&  his  wound  healed  &  he  is  yet  living;'"  he  was  once  or  twice  account'' 
to  be  dying  &  once  accf  a^  dead,  a  day  or  two  after  his  being  wound**. 

Abigail  Belding  another  daughter  was  shot  in  y*"  arm  as  she  was  run- 
uiug  to  the  fort,  but  it  is  generally  tho't  y*"  bullet  y'  struck  her  came 
from  y"  Fort.  Sanih  Belding  another  of  y"  daugbters,  hid  herself 
among  some  Tobacco  in  _)  -  chamber  atjd  escap''. 

The  people  in  the  fort  (l)eing  then  at  the  i)ublic  worship)  were 
alarmed  &  shot  from  the  Fort  &,  wound''  one  of  y  "^  enemy  in  the  fleshy 
part  of  the  tliigh.  the  ir.lians  tired  at  y"  Fort  &  w(mnd''  one  Mr.  W"' 
[Zebediali]  as  he  opn''y''  gate,  the  enemy  presently  withdrew  (were 
not  one  quarter  of  an  hour  in  doing  y"  e.xploit)  and  were  followed  by 
some  Brisk  young  men  into  the  meadow,  who  came  within  30  rods  of 
them  (fe  fired  at  them  &  y*^  Indians  at  them  again  without  damage  on 
either  side,  the  Indians  kill''  some  cattle  that  were  feedini;  in  v''  mead- 
ows,  &  a  boy  tliat  had  the  care  of  the  cattle  hid  himself  in  the  weeds  & 
escap''.  the  enemy  went  up  (ireen  River  &  came  to  their  companions 
that  they  bad  left  with  Gillett.  John  Smead  came  into  the  Town  soon 
after  Mr.  Belding's  fai  lily  were  well  off.  Y"  1"'  night  y°  enemy  lodg'' 
in  around  hole  near  the  river,  alx)ve  y"  rock,  at  Nf''  St.,  where  y'  fires 
were  fresh,  thence  set  away  for  Canada  by  y'^  way  of  Otter  Creek,  leav- 
ing Connecucut  river  &e.  Whei'  they  came  near  Otter  creek,  they 
came  upon  some  tracks  of  Albany  Indians  that  were  going  to  Canada, 
(for  in  those  times y*"  Indians  from  Albany  were  wont  to  go  a-scalping, 
as  they  call  it,  to  Canada)  they  sent  out  their  scouts  <k,  were  upon  the 
lookout,  and  at  length  discovered  y'  smoak;  and  then  they  flung  down 
their  packs  &  painted  theniselves  &  ty''  theit  English  captives  to  trees 
&  left  two  men  to  guard  them:  &  proceeded  to  y'  business,  &  having 
divid''  themselves  into  two  companies,  they  sett  upon  the  secure  com- 
pany (w'^''  consist''  of  six  mew)  &  kill''  two  of  y"-,  took  two  &  2  escap''. 
Among  y"  slain  was  one  Uroen  an  Indian  known  among  y"  english 
{&.  suspect''  to  be  a  bloody  fellow  &  sometimes  mischievous  to^y" 
english).  Of  their  own  men  one  was  wound''  in  y"  fleshy  part  of 
the  thigh  (as  one  had  been  before  at  D'fd.)  the  prisonei-s  were  one 


id 


Ajypendi^. 


fc  H 


n 


a  Scatacook  itKnaii  ife  y"^ other  a  young  Albany  Molmwk.  When 
tlio  skirmish  was  over,  tlu-  EiigliBh  were  brot  up  tfe  so  tliey  proceed'' 
on  their  journey,  Mr.  15.  a.sked  tlie  Scactacook  Indian^  (now  his  fel- 
h)w  prisoners)  what  he  thought  the  enemy  would  do  with  them,  who 
reply''  that  they  would  not  kill  y'"  english  prisoners,  but  give  some  of 
them  to  y"  fronch  &  keep  some  of  them  themselves;  but  he  expected 
to  be  burnt  himself,  but  when  tiiey  came  to  y®  lake,  one  rainy  night, 
they  made  no  fire,  and  some  of  them  lodg*"  under  y'  canoes,  from 
whom  this  Scatacook  iruide  his  escape  having  loosed  himself  by  some 
means  from  his  cords  ifec.,and  altho  ho  Wiis  psu''the  enemy  could  not  re- 
cover him  &c.  As  to  the  young  Albany  Mohawk,  he  was  kept  alive, 
being  of  their  oAvn  nation  (the  french  mohawks  went  f rom  y' nation 
over  to  Canada  for  y*  sak  of  y**  romish  religion).  W"  Mr.  B.  &  com. 
pany  came  to  the  fort  call''  ()60,'^the  males  were  obliged  to  run  the 
Gauntlet  near  it,  Mr.  li  being  a  very  nimble  or  light  footed  man,  re. 
ceived  but  few  blows,  setting  out,  but  the  other  men  were  much  ahus'' 
by  clubs,  firebrands,  &c. 

They  arriv''  at  Canada  8'"'  9.  Now  they  found  what  the  Scata. 
cook  Indian  liad  said  to  be  true,  for  the  indians  kept  Mr.  B.  himself 
&  his  daughtar  with  them,  &  gave  J.  G.  &  N.  B.  to  the  french. 
J.  G.  worked  as  a  serv'  to  y"  Nuns  at  their  Fartn.  N.  B.  worked 
for  the  Holy  Sisters.     On  y"  9"'  of  July  following,  Mr.  B.  was  sold 

>  y*  french  Sc  lived  as  a  serv*  with  the  Jesuits  at  the  seminary;  his 
business  was  to  wait  upon  them  &  cutt  wood,  make  fires  &  tand  the 
gar<len  etc.  He  accounted  himself  favorably  dealt  with.  In  j'" 
winter  following  Co"  Abr'"  Schyler  with  some  others  came  to  Cana- 
da cV:  l)rought  with  them  a  copy  of  y^'  Articles  of  peace  between 
England  and  France  ct  return''  home  w"'  some  Dutch  Captives.  In 
April!  following  Co"  Peter  Schyler^"' &  Co"  A.  Schyler  &  the  Dutch 
Dominie,  w''"'  some  others,  came  to  Canada  &,  the  French  governor 
gave  liberty  to  all  captives,  English  tfe  Dutch,  to  return  home,  yea 
alowed  them  to  oblige  all  under  16  years  of  age  to  return  w**"  them, 
those  above  y*  age  were  to  be  at  their  liberty  &c.  These  Dutch 
Gentleman  gather''  up  w*^  ca])tive8  both  English  &  Dutch  they  could 
&  returned  June  8,  &,  took  Mr.  B  &  his  xdren  and  Martin  Smith'* 
with  ab'  20  more  English  with  them,  &  arrived  at  Albany  in  about 
15  days,  where  y'"  Dutch  showed  to  him  a  great  deal  of  kindness, 
offered  to  send  him  home  directly  to  Deerf'',  Co"  Schyler  cloth'' 
him  &  his  xdren  at  the  desire  of  his  brother  Mr.  John  Belding  of 
Norwalk,  who  paid  him  for  the  clothes  &c.  after  about  three  weeks' 
stay  at  Albany,  Mr.  B.  &  his  children  went  aown  the  river  to  N. 


Appendix. 


17 


1  .rk  where  his  B'  had  provided  a  place  for  his  entertainment  & 
from  York  he  went  in  a  vessill  to  Stamford  &,  from  there  went  to 
.N^)fwalk  to  his  friends  tfc  after  some  stay  tliere,  return''  to  D'f'd.  J. 
(i.  not  home  a  UttU;  hoforc  him  hy  the  way  of  France  &  so  to  Eng- 
1,111,1,  having  received  great  kiiuhiess  in  Englajid. 

Decrfield,  May  10,  17o4,  John  Allen  and  his  wife  going  ont  from 
the  Oarrison,  about  two  miles,  upon  some  business,  were  ambush'* 
!.v  tlu>  Indians,  wlio  kill''  him  outright  i%  took  his  wife,  whom  they 
kill''  about  a  mile  or  two  from  the  place. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  1704,  a  friend  indinn  was  killed  at 
llatlield  Mill.     His  name  was  Kindness.     The  enemy  had  not  op- 

•tnnity  to  scalp   him.     On  tlie  same  week,  Thomas  Russell,  a 


iiori 


\..iiiig  man  of  Hatfield,  (being  then  a  soldier  at  Deerfield)  was  sent 
out  into  v"  woods  with  others  as  a  scrit,  but  he  rambling  from  his 
"(iMipany,  v/as  kill''  by  y*  Indians. 

Some  tracks  discover'  Deacon  Sheldon  [also  Ensign]  w''*  some 
orliors  went  after  y'"  &  came  in  sight  of  y'",  &  shot  at  y%  &  y^  at 
y'  onglish  at  a  great  distance,  tfe  then  y''  past  along  on  y"  west  side 
of  y'  Town,  &  fir''  y'"  gusis  in  a  bravado,  &  went  along  up  to  y" 
Northward,  ct  kill''  Tho    Russell  July  20,  1704. 

July  30,  1704,  one  Dr.  Grossman  with  two  or  three  more  men 
w  I  re  riding  in  the  night  between  Hadloy  and  Springfield  &  were 
fir'  upon  by  the  enemy,  who  wound''  Dr.  Grossman  in  the  arm. 
This  is  y*"  only  time  (that  I  can  learn)  that  they  ever  fir''  upon  any- 
hnily  travelling  in  tho  night. 

July  31,  1700,  Sam'  Chapin  &  his  Brother  went  np  to  their  farm 
(at  a  place  called  Ghicoby  in  y'"  north  part  of  Springfield)  and  .per- 
ceiving some  signs  of  Indians  liast'"'  towards  the  town,  but  the  In- 
dians follow**  them  about  a  mile  and  an  half,  and  then  fir"*  upon 
them  and  shot  Sam"  Ghapinthro''  the  side,  but  he  recovered  of  his 
wound:  The  same  company  of  Indians  (as  is  supposed)  went  to 
Drookfield  and  kill''  the  widow  Taft,  as  she  was  milking  <fec. 

July  9,  1708,  Sam"  and  Joseph  Parsons  of  Northampton  (sons  to 
''apt.  John  Parsons)  being  in  the  woods  looking  after  cattle  were 
■■-lain  by  the  Indians. 

July  26,  1708,  about  7  or  8  Indians  rushed  into  the  house  of 
leivetent  Wright  (at  a  place  called  Scipmuck  in  Springfield)  and 
kill''  and  scalp**  (and  they  beat  their  heads  to  pieces)  Aaron  Parsons 
&  Barejah  Hubbard,  who  were  soldiers,  knockt  down  and  scalp**  old 
Mrs.  Wright,  who  yet  liv**  aliout  three  months,  and  then  dy*'.  Two 
children  of  Henry  Wriglits  that  lay  in  the  cradle,  they  knock**  on 


in 
lii 


I 


m 


!■ 


'I:  til 


18 


A]ypendix. 


the  head;  one  of  them  rly'  that  iiij^ht,  tl»e  other  recover''  and  iBBtill 
living;  they  took  TJeiiry  Wright's  wife  captive  whom  'tis  supoH'' 
they  afterward  kill"  and  scalp''.  J.iev'  Wright  got  out  rf  his  shop 
window  atid  escap",  and  a  daughter  of  liis  ran  out  at  a  door  (wliich 
latch"  on  the  outside)  iuid  pull"  the  string  after  her  and  so  oscap". 
The  house  was  not  fortiti(!d,  but  had  Mankers  at  two  corners  it(;. 

Au<'-nfit,  1708,  a  scout  of  six  men  al)ont  an  hundred  mile  above 
Deertield,  were  fell  upon  by  a  party  of  indians,  and  one  Barber  of 
Windsor  was  slain,  but  after  he  had  receiv"  his  mortal]  wound,  he 
got  up  on  his  knees  <te  shot  tlie  very  indiatJ  that  had  shot  him,  and 
fell  down  and  dy^  so  that  when  the  indians  came  to  them  (whicli 
was  in  a  few  minutes)  hey  were  both  dea<l  lying  within  a  few  ro<ls 
one  of  another,  this  account  1  had  from  an  indian,  who  upon  relat- 
ing the  nuitter  add'',  no  h  ,  i.  e.  not  Ikrber,  but  his  (/host.  At  tlu; 
same  time  Mart'"  Kellogue  jun.'  was  taken  (which  was  the  second 
time  of  his  going  into  cai)tivity)  but  he,  l)efore  he  was  taken,  dis- 
charg"  his  gun,  and  M'ound"  an  Indian  in  the  thigh. 

(>ctob'  13,  1708,  Al'ijah  Bartlett  was  kill**  at  Brookfield,  and  Jo- 
seph Jennings  and  Benjnmin  Jennings  and  .lohn  Green  were 
wound"  and  a  boy  of  John  Woolcot's  was  taken. 

Octob'26, 1708,  Ebenezer  Field  of  Ilatiield,  going  to  Deerf",  was 
kill"  near  Muddy  (or  as  some  call  it  bloody)  (fot  there  it  was  that 
Capt.  Lathroi)  and  his  company  wore  cutt  off  in  philips  war,) 
Brook. 

Aprill  11,  1709,  M'  Mahuman  Hinsdell  was    driving  his    teem, 
from  Northampton  loaded  with  apple  trees,  without  any  fear  of  in- 
dians (the  leaves  not  being  put  forth)  was  met   by  two  indians 
about  half  of  a  mile  from  the  pine  bridge)  who  took  him  prisoner 
and  cari"  him  a  vay  into  y*'  west  woods.     The  Indians  were  civil  & 
courteous  to  him  on  y''  journey.     They  arriv"  at  Shamble  within 
about  eleven  days  &  an  half  after  they  took  Mr.  Hinsdell.     From 
Shamble  they  cari"  Mr.  Hinsdell  to  Oso",  where  he  was  ohlig''  to 
run  the  Gauntlett  (as  they  call  it)  [i.  e.  to  run  from  the  indians  who 
persue  &  if  th  when — This  is  erased]  for  near  three  quarters  of  a 
mile,  but  he  ran  so  briskly  as  not  to  receive  a  blow  till  he  came  near 
the  Fort  when  he  was  met  by  an  indian,  who  taking  hold  of  y'^  line 
(that  was  round  his  neck  and  hung  upon  his  Back)  pull''  him  down, 
and  so  he  was  struck  by  one  fellow;  after  he  was  got  into  y'"  Fort, 
he  was  set  in  y"  midst  of  a  company  and  oblig"  to  sing  and  dance, 
&  while  thus  employ",  he  was  struck  a  very  severe  blow  upon  the 
naked  back,  by  a  youth'y*  was  of  such  an  age  as  to  think  y*  engag- 


Appendrlx, 


19 


iii<;  in  some  warlike  expedition,  but  this  l)oirig  contrary  to  thoir 
iiriiiiil  custuin  (ho  haviiifj  porfonu''  y"  ooroiiiony  of  running  y''gaunt- 
lett)  was  reHonted  not  only  by  M'  II.  y'  Biiltcjrer,  but  by  y"  Indians 
ill  i,fcnerall  &c.  From  this  Fort  Mr  II  was  cari''  to  tliu  Frcncdi 
(Jovenour  who  know  him  (for  tluH  wa8  y  2''  time  of  M/  Ilijisdolls 
I'.iptivity)  and  told  him  ho  expect''  a  full  a(!Conntof  newB  from  him, 
Ufspocially  about  an  expiditlon  (which  he  .suspected  was  on  foot). 
Ye  governour  told  him  if  he  would  give  him  a  full  accont  of  what 
news  then^  was  v.\  his  country,  he  would  treat  him  with  respect,  but 
if  lie  found  he  did  not,  he  would  uso  him  worse  than  a  De\  ill  ifee. 
Ihit  M'  II.  endeavored  as  best  he  could  to  avoid  giving  him  an  ac- 
coinit  ifec.  But  when  M''  Whiting  of  BeUorica  was  brot  into  the 
(oiintry  by  y"  indians  and  gave  an  account  of  an  expidition  on  foot, 
M'  II.  was  taken  and  juit  into  y'  dungeon  &c.  [After  a  whilt) 
(tcii"  Nicholson  sent  an  indian  as  a  spy  into  yj  country  who  was  to 
endeavor  to  draw  of  y'  Indians  from  the  French,  and  join  with 
dcii"  Nicholson,  this  ])lan — this  is  erased,  but  gives  a  clue  to  the 
story  |.  After  a  while  y''  Indians  desired  of  the  CTOverneur,  that 
tliey  nrght  have  M'  H.  to  burn,  (pretending  they  should  fight  the 
better  if  they  could  burn  an  Englishman)  and  he  was  delivered  to 
the  Indians,  who  were  plotting  to  leave  y'"  French  &  go  over  to 
(ten"  Nicholson  tfe  y''  Dutch,  and  designed  to  have  made  use  of 
M'  H.  to  have  introdu''  them.  All  was  kept  private  from  the 
FreiKih,  &  M'  llinsd(^!l  was  led  away  towards  Montreal  from 
(^uheck.  The  Indians  connnunicated  their  design  to  M'  II.  who 
was  overjoy''  with  the  account  (for  he  thought  of,  nothing  but  be- 
ing sacriliced  by  them)  &  enconrag''  it,  but  before  they  were  ready 
to  execute  y*  design,  a  certain  indian  fell  sick,  and  in  his  sickness 
making  confession  to  a  priest,  discover''  the  plot,  and  so  all  was 
dash''.  The  fellow  y*'  was  the  projector  of  it  (being  one  that  had 
come  from  Allbany,  or  from  some  of  tlie  live  nations  to  them)  had 
timely  notice,  so  as  to  escape  to  Shand)le,  where  he  putt  a  trick 
n|)on  y"  ji'Kcer  of  y*"  Fort,  pretending  to  him  that  he  was  sent  from 
the  governeur,  to  make  what  discovery  he  conld  of  y'"  English, 
npon  which  y''  officer  supply''  him  with  arms,  amunition  &  provi- 
sion and  he  had  been  gone  but  a  little  while  into  the  woods  before 
his  psuers  (the  plot  being  wholly  ript  up)  came  after  him,  but  yet 
he  was  gone,  so  as  to  escape  his  psuers.  M'  H.  was  taken  from  y" 
Indians  and  again  eommif  to  prison,  and  the  next  year  M'  H.  and 
Mr.  Joseph  Clesson""  were  sent  to  France  in  a  man  of  war — and  in 
France  he  met  with  great  kindness,  particularly  from  the  Ld  intend- 


% 


20 


App^nffix. 


ant  at  KoHlioUe,  and  after  a  \vh\h  tliey  worn  .sliip"*  at  Saint  Moloos 
for  London,  wln're  tlusy  met  with  t^rt-at  I<iridnert8  ertpi'cialiy  from 
Mr  Agent  Duinmer,  who  iiitereeed'  witli  tlie  L(M*dH  of  tlie  Adinir 
alty,  wlio  order"'  tlioin  on  hoard  one  of  the  (^ueenH  Ships  which 
hronght  thein  to  IthocU)  inhmd  whence  they  got  home  if»  Bafty  to 
their  faniiiieK,  after  M'  Ilinndell  had  heen  ahi-ent  from  his  family  al)' 
three  years  and  an  half. 

[He  returned  Oct..  1712.  Mr.  Hinsdell  wa.s  the  first  white  mau 
born  in  Deerfic'U.  His  fi'-st  captu'-e  by  Indians  was  Feb.  2,  1704. 
He  died  May  2,  1736.  The  above  narrative  bears  evidence  of  beinji; 
taken  from  iiis  own  mouth.] 

Aug.  8,1709,  John  Clary  and  Robert  (franger  were  slain  at 
Brookfield 

CAPT.  BENJAMIN   WRKIUT'S  SCOLnV 

Xlever''  Sir — After  D'le  Regards  these  May  Inform  yon  what 
Lieut  Childh"'  and  Mr  Hoit'"  related  to  me  concerning  the  travails 
of  Capt  Write  »&  his  Company  towards  Canada  vfe  w''  happened  to 
theni  about  that  time  it  is  as  follows  - 

Ca])t  Write  tfe  a  Small  (Jom])any  of  men  designing  for  Canada  to 
destroy  y'  enemy,  in  y*^  Beginning  of  April  1710,  we  then  set  out 
from  Deeriield  in  Nmnber  Containing  lO,  and  travailed  up  Con 
nectieut  River  which  is  usually  Called  120  Miles.  There  we  dis- 
covered two  Bark  Canos,  by  reason  of  that  our  Capt  was  pleased 
to  Leave  ♦>  of  his  men  to  Ly  in  wait  of  y"  Canos  Supposing  Some 
Indians  would  Come  there.  And  then  tlie  Capt,  wif.h  y"  Levt  & 
y*"  rest  of  y  men  set  forwnrd  up  y"  White  River  taking  y'^  Nor 
west  Branch,  following  it  up  to  the  Head  then  we  Steared  to  French 
river  &  travailing  down  sd  River  till  we  Came  to  y®  3*  Falls  tfe 
y'  we  built  two  Canoes  cfe  then  set  out  for  the  Lake  &  when  we 
came  there  the  wind  was  so  high  y^  we  were  forvred  to  lye  by  a  Day 
or  two.  After  that  one  Evening  we  esp'ed  a  lire  y*^  opposite  Side. 
Supposing  it  to  be  indiau  we  then  forthwith  Tm  bark  tfe  Steared  our 
Course  towards  the  fire  and  while  we  was  upon  y"  water,  there 
arose  a  terrible  Storm  of  thunder  &  Lightning  which  put  out  the  fire 
y^  we  before  espied  &  thro'  Gods  Goodness  we  all  got  safe  to 
land  &  Drawing  up  our  Canos  upon  y''  Land  turned  them  up  for 
Shelter  till  next  morning  <k  then  we  making  search  /oi  the  tire  that 
we  afore  espied  &  found  it  had  only  been  y"  woods  on  fire.  After 
that  we  set  out  for  Canada  in  our  Canoes  on  y*"  west  side  of  the 
Lake  till  two  hours  by  sun  at  night  &  then  the  wind  arose  again 


Appfndh. 


21 


which  forcoti  us  to  lyo  by  till  next  day  in  y'"  attoniouii  i*k  tlum  wo 
it  out  for   Sliiitnl>le  ife  coming  t<»  a   [Hiiiit  of   Land   iicir  Fnrtlo- 
iiMiU,  \v<' t'spit'd  2  (^'aiiuf.  of   Indians   in    iimidn'r  H  coniin;;^  towardn 
II-.  llicii  we  paddled    lo    l.;ind  vV    riniriin<;'  ii|»  y'   Haidv,  l>y  this  tliin' 
liinst!  indiaii   Canon   wan  iijot   against    iis,   iV    tlion  wo  ^avts  tlit'tn  a 
Salutation  out  of  the    tmih.>v'l  of  oiir  i^iiiis  riinicd    orio  ovtT-hoard 
\'  w'v  Htill  continued  iirinu;  caused  y'"  to   I'addle  away  w"'  all  Speed 
A-  left  y*  fellow  Swimming  ahont   ^    when   they  liad  ijjot  out  of  y' 
n  icli  of  our  ;jjun.s  hoth  (Janos  j^^ot  to«i;eth<M%  and  all  ^'ot  into  on(%  tfe 
left   >•'■  other  w"'   (JoiiHiderahle   plunder    in    in,  tfe   when    they  was 
iiiisv.'d  off  we  niani'd  out  one  <d'  our  Cfinoes  and  fcteluMl  in  tlioirs. 
Ami  he  that  was  Swinnrdn^  al)(»ut  we  Called  to  Shore  to  us,  And 
l.cvt  Childs  kilhid  him   i^:  some  of  y"  men   walped  him.     And  by 
Information  that  we  had  aftiirward  by  the   Capti'os,  y'  were  then 
ill  Canada  three   wen*  killed  at   the  Same  Time.     And   after  that 
Sl^irmish,  we  made  tin;  i)est  of  our  way  h<»nu!war(h    <S:    CaiiK;  to  y" 
French  Kiver  after   Dark,  'and  so  proceeded   all*  that  night  up  y' 
French  River  till  we  Come  to  the  Falls,  and  there  we  Left  our  Cano« 
and  took  our  Packs  upon  our  liacks  and  travaih^d  homewards  upy" 
River,  and  comeing  to  a  (.'rook  that  was  in  the  river,  we  Left  y'' 
river  tfe  took  y"*  nearest  Cutt  acrost  y'  Elbow  and  st)  come  to  y''  riv- 
er again,  wdiich  was  about  nine  of  y''  clock  that  morning,  <Sc  there 
we  espied  a  </anoa  (toming  down  y''  river  with   four   Indians  in  it 
and  a  Captive-man,   which    \v'a8   taken   at    Exeter,    named    William 
Moody.     We  Immediately   fired   on  tluini  and    killed    2  the  first 
slioot  &  wounded  y''  JJ''  &  y''  4"'  fluin[)ed  out  ik  Swam  to  y''  Con- 
trary Shore,  then  our  Capt  ordered  some  of  his  men  to  tarry  there 
k  fire  at  him  when  he  got  to  Shon;,  and  they  did  So,  tfe  afterwards 
we  was  Informed  y'  he  was  so  wounded,  that  in  a  fev/  Days  after  he 
got  to  Canada,  died.     Now  the  rest  of  the  men    followed  y''  Canoa 
as  it  fell  Down  Stream,  and  the  Capt  Called  to  the  (^aptive  to  pad- 
dle y"  Canoe  to  Land,    but  he   re|)lied   he  (!0uld   not    l)eeause    the* 
wounded  Lidian  wt>uld  not  Let  him,  with  that   the  Capt  liollowed 
to  him  &  bid  him  knock  in  him  in  y'  head,  with  that  he  took  up  a 
hatchet  to  Do  it  but  y^  Indian  rising  up  took  hold  of  y''  hatchet  & 
got  it  away  from  him  and  tlien  catched  up  the  Paddle  ife  Laid  it  on 
his  head  &  tliey  skuifling  together  turned  over  the  Canoe  and  part- 
ed in  the  water,  &  the  Indian  Swam  to  the  Contrary  Shore,     As  he 
got  out  of  the  water  we  ])ined  him  to  the  Bank  with  seven  Bullets. 
The  Captive  also  Swimming  towards  us,  but  being  very  weak  fell 
ilown  a  great  pace  &  Cried  out  ho  should  Drown  before  he  Could 


c' 


ipiaiiiiiii 


22 


Appendix. 


Ki 


1 


»    :  1 

'■•*&    "I    i 

Si  'm 


get  to  Shore,  vuu  4,iiat  Lient  Wolls  iiung  down  his  gun  upon  y'' 
Bank  i%  run  Down  <k  (matched  up  a  pool  ."t  licld  ont  to  liiin  &  ho 
catchod  hold  of  it  &  y'  Litmt.  drew  him  to  Lsiud.  And  John  Strong 
heing  upon  tlie  Bank  heard  y"  sticks  Crack  hehind  him  &  Looked 
"ound  ifc  cried  out  Indians  tte  was  Immediately  fired  upon  by  them 
k  was  woulided  in  the  face  &  breast  with  a  ('harge  of  Cutt  Shoot, 
but  not  mortal.  With  that  Lieut  Wells  sprung  up  the  Bank  to  get 
his  gun  &  was  nvortally  shot.  Now  the  men  being  scattered  along 
upon  the  P>ank  but  the  Capt  being  with  y*=  captive  y'  came  to  y'' 
shore  Immediately  examiiuid  him  how  many  Indians  there  was,  he 
n)ade  answer  19  being  in  5  Canos  2  being  down  stream  froin  that 
wh'.jh  we  shot  upon,  And  2  above,  ha-ing  i^een  at  Exeter  took  4 
captives  (men),  wlncii  they  there  had  with  them  and  those  2  canos 
y'  was  passed  byjwas  y''  Indians  y*  Miade  y^' fii-st  shoot  upon  us. 

Antl  we  also  received  Several  Siioots  from  those  y*'  were  ahove 
ns,  which  Landed  on  y"  other  side  of  the  River.  Now  we  being 
under  no  advantage  to  defend  ourselves  we  every  one  made  y'"  best 
of  our  way  and  shirked  for  our  Selves  &  in  a  short  Time  Caj)t 
Write  &  5  of  his  men  got  together,  three  more  yet  »nissing.  The 
next  Day  came  2  more  to  us  where  we  hid  some  of  our  Provisions 
&  there  wtiiting  some  hours  for  the  other  man.  But  he  Came  not 
while  we  tarried  there,  whereas  Capt.  Write  thinking  best  to  leave 
a  Suitable  quantity  of  Provisions  and  other  necesseries  in  Case  he 
ever  came  it  might  by  of  service  to  him  in  his  journey  homeward, 
It  being  one  John  IJurt  of  ISTorthampton.  Then  seting  forward  on 
uiir  Journey  ho>i>nwMrds  *fc  Came  to  our  (Janoas  that  we  left  on 
White  Uiverthen  v^e  got  into  them  ct  Came  down  y"  river  to  y'' 
mouth  of  it,  where  we  left  6  men  formally  mentioned  in  our  His- 
tory. And  tinding  them  gone,  then  we  set  forward  homeward  *fe 
after  vfQ  had  got  home,  those  six  men  t'ormally  mentioned  Inform- 
ed us  w'  tliey  had  Litt  of  (1  Days  after  we  left  them.  These  6  men 
espied  a  Cano  of  2  Indians  Coming  Down  the  River  &  called  to 
them  not  knowing  but  y*^  that  they  was  Scattocooks  but  they  refus- 
ed to  come  to  them  tte  paddled  to  the  contrary  shore.  Then  they 
fired  wounding  one,  but  they  geting  to  tiie  shore  Left  ye  Canoa  & 
plunder.  After  that  y-  men  made  y''  bett  of  their  way  home  And 
some  Time  after  they  Were  got  home  was  Informed  y'  they  were 
Scattocooks. 

Now  returning  to  our  former  Story,  having  an  account  of  two  of 
those  Captives  y'  were  with  y''  indiana  that  we  Litt  of  on  y*"  french. 
river,  are  riow  returned  home,  tte  gave  us  an  account  y*  we  then 


Ajppendix. 


23 


killed  4  Indians.     And  Moody  that  we  liad  taken  from  thepi  we 

Lost  a^ain,  we  being  then  in  such  a  friglit,  every  one  took  to  his 

heals,  But  moody  heing  so  weak  &  feeble  was  not  able  to  follow, 

MOW  after  this  the  Indians  all  gathered  together  on  the  other  Shore, 

k  Moody  seeing  them  hallowed  to  them  to  fetch   him  over  &  one 

(•nine  vi'  after  they  had  got  him  over  they  Burnt  him  on  the  Sp,)t. 

\V,>  wafe  informed  al  o  y'  w"  the  Indians  got  to  Canada  they  Burnt 

(»ii(>  more  of  these  Captives  Andrew  Gilman  by  name.     Now  to  say 

a  liltle  '.More  concerning  Burt,  what  became  of  him,  having  some 

Transient  stories  y'  a  man's  bones,  and  a  Gun  was  found  by  some 

rniliaiis  above  y"  Great  Falls  upon  Connect'  Iliver  about  60  miles 

ai)'>\x^  Deeriield,  which  some  thirdv  was  sd  Burt. 

The  nu'iber  of  Days  we  was  taking  this  march  was  32,  and  the 

men's  Names  are  as  follows: 

Capt  Beuj"  Write  of  North*"". 

Lcvj   John  Wells,  killed,  of  Deer''. 

I'eiiry  Write,  of  Spring''. 

Timothy  Childs,  of  Deer''.  ^ 

•lull'  Iloit,  of  Deer*'. 

Jabez  Olmstead,  Deer''. 

.Inlin  Ourt,  Lost,  North*"". 

'1  (•>(''  Ephraim  )  t    r         -f  at  i-  i 
'PI         S)  Indums  of  Natick. 

J  nomas  lagan  ) 

The  other  6meny*  set  out  w"'  us  y'  we  left  at  y**  mouth  of  White 

River  are  as  follows: 

Eisen'  Severance  of  Deer''. 


Math"  Clesson  of  Nortii'"". 

X 


nomas  McCrann'>.  of  Spring". 
Joseph  Wait  of  ITatf''. 
Josp.  Root  of  Ilattield. 
Tlie  other  we  cannot  at  present  call  by  name. 

[John  Strong  of  Northampton  was  with  Capt.  Wright,  and  probably 
John  King  of  Nhn  was  the  sixth  left  at  White  River.] 


CAPT.  THOMAS  BAKER'S  SCOUT. 

Another  Story  related  to  me  ])y  IJvet  (Jhilds  Concerning  Cai)t. 
Baker'i'ife  his  Company,  and  what  happened  to  them  in  their  march 
i>>  as  follows: 

April  tlu!  B(?ginning  Capt  Baker,  Lieut  Sam"  Williams'"  Lieut 
Martin  Kelhjgg"  with  28  men  set  out  from  Deerfield  uj)  Connect 
liiver  Designing  for  Cowass  on  purpose  to  Destroy  a  family  or  two 


24 


Appendix. 


\A 


of  IiuUans  that  they  lieard  was  there.  But  when  arrived  found  no 
signs  of  any  enemy  there.  Then  afterwards  we  took  our  journey 
for  merriniack  k  eouiing  upon  it  at  y"  head  of  the  west  I^raneh  fol 
lowing  of  it  Down  one  Day,  &  then  finding  two  Indian  Tracks 
vs^liich  went  down  the  river  we  continuing  our  Course  next  Day 
Down  y'"  river  after  them,  towards  nigiit  finding  the  Tracks  of  4 
more  &  tlien  encampt.  The  officers  next  morning  thought  it  best 
to  sen-'  fortii  a  Small  Company  of  ov,r  men  to  see  what  they  could 
Disiover  And  in  about  two  hours  they  retui'ned  again  &  Informed 
by  what  thin'  had  Discovered  that  there  was  a  party  of  Indians  not 
far  off.  Then  the  ofti(!er8  took  3  of  there  Soaldiers  to  make  further 
DiHcovcry  ordering  the  re.st  of  the  Company  to  Lye  still  &  be  very 
Careful]  &  m'>ke  no  rout  till  they  returned  and  in  about  .3  ..ouis 
they  returned  c^'  Informed  their  Company  that  they  liad  discovered 
some  Wigwams.  Judging  [three  (?)]  of  them  to  be  Indians  with 
families,  with  that  y*^  whole  Company  moved  in  abort  half  a  mile 
■of  them,  and  then  finding  y"  wigwams  to  be  on  y"  [bank  ?]  of  the 
river  and  a  swamp  Lying  upon  the  back  side.  And  Judging  it  to 
be  best  to  Devide  y^  Company  into  two  parts  Livt  AVilliams  &  Livt 
Kellogge  taking  f»ne  iial,f  &  Ca))t  Baker  y''  other.  Agreeing  also 
y'  one  part  should  go  round  y''  Svvamjt  up  Stream,  and  the  other 
]>art  Down  Stream.  Soon  after  we  parted  the  Company  of  Capt 
Baker  espied  a  straggling  Indian  Comittg  directly  towards  them, 
with  a  hatchet  Stuck  in  his  Girdle  &  a  Stick  on  his  Shouldier, 
which  we  judged  was  a  going  to  peal  Bark.  Now  we  knowing  that 
we  should  be  Discovered  was  o'oliged  to  fire  him  Down  &  did  so, 
now  many  guns  being  Discharged  at  liim.  Alarmed  y'' other  Indians 
&  caused  the  tother  part  of  the  men  to  come  back  again.  After 
that  word  was  given  out  to  run  to  the  wigwams.  After  running  a 
Little  way  Litting  of  some  Indiu)i  dogs  which  we  following  lojid  us 
to  the  wigwams  upon  the  river  Bard<  &  there  finding  12  Indians 
Jest  encred  into  their  Canoes  to  Cross  the  river  &  espjing 
a  uuud)er  of  S([uas  &  Poposes  on  the  other  Side  running  into  the 
wdods,  but  we  fii-ing  brislcly  on  them  that  was  on  y^'  water,  Soon 
turned  the  bulk  of  tljem  out  of  their  Canoas,  and  the  other  Jump- 
ed out  and  Swam  to"^hc  Contrary  Shore.  So  we  judged  we  had 
killed  8  or  !♦  and  afterwards  was  informc^d  by  Some  Easterd  Cap- 
tives y' we  did  kill  9.  After  the  skirmi.sh  was  over,  we  viewed 
their  habitation  &  judged  that  ihey  had  Lived  there  two  or 
three  years,  by  the  (juantity  of  Furs  we  found  there.  The  Place 
where  we  Litt  of  these  Indians,  was   where  the  two   Brar^ches  of 


Appendix. 


25 


tlio  river  come  together."  After  this  we  reti^rned  to  the  place 
where  we  left  onr  Packs,  with  a  small  quantity  of  plunder  and 
there  we  packed  up  and  Steared   our  Course  for  Dunstable  &  in 

Time  reached  it,  froivi  thence  we  travailed  to  Chensford,  And 

tlie  People  being  very  kind  to  us.  Oui  Capt  with  a  Waitirg-man, 
went  to  Boston  to  Inform  his  Excellency  Gov  Dudley  of  his  good 
service  done  the  Province,  ordering  the  Lieut  to  take  the  men  and 
iii.iroh  to  Marlborough  &  there  to  wait  for  him  &  in  a  little  time  he 
C.iiTie  and  ordered  us  to  march  homewards,  from  thence  wf^  march- 
to  l^rookfield  which  was  a  very  hard  Day's  travail  by  reason  of 
some  men  being  very  Lame,  frotn  thence  we  marched  to  LTadley, 
from  thence  to  Hatfield,  from  thence  to  Deer''  w''  we  first  set  from. 
Finis." 


e( 


[On  a  scrap  of  paper  in  the  hand  writing  of  Stephen  WilHams,  is 
found  the  following: 

"Capt.  Baker  &  my  Brother's  expedition  to  Cowass  &  over  to  Merri- 
,mack,  where  they  killed  my  old  master  \\^ottanammon  in  April,  17 12."] 

July  22,  1710,  John  Grosvenor,  Ebenezer  Howard,  John  White, 
Benjamin  and  Stephen  Jennings  and  Joseph  Kellogue  slain  in  the 
meadows  at  Brc>oktield. 


Aug.  11,  1711,  Samuel  Strong  of  Northampton  w"'  his  son  Sam" 
going  very  early  in  the  morning  irrto  y"  Field  was  ambush''  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  who  iir''  upon  them  and  kill''  and  scalp''  the  young 
man  and  wound''  the  old  gentleman,  and  then  took  him  captive  and 
••arri''  him  to  Canada;  but  he  is  since  return''  Ijome  again. 

July  29,  1712,  Benjamin  Wright  a  lad,  son  to  Joseph  Wright  of 
Soipnnick  in  Springf  being  in  a  meadow  at  scipmnck,  was  taken  by 
the  Indians,  and  afterwards  kill''  in  the  woods  as  was  sopos**. 

July  80,  1712,  a  scout  of  men  that  were  out  about  Deerf  being 

very  (Careless  &  noisy,  as  they  travell''  were  tir^  upon  by  a  party  of 

Indians,  who  kill''  Samuel  Andross  of  Conn.,  and  took  Jonathan 
Barrett,  and  William  San  ford  captives." 

June  18,  1724,  a  small  company  of  Indians  fell  upon  some  men  in' 
ITattield  at  a  pkuje  call''  mill  swamp  about  four  miles  from  town, 
and  kill''  Benjanun  Smith,  and  took  captive  Joseph  Allis,  and  Aaron 
Wells,  the  former  they  kilP  within  a  day  or  two  &c. 


26 


AppendioB. 


IH 


LIEUT.  TIMOTHY   CFIILDS  WOUNDED. 

.Inly  10,  1724,  Story  of  Lievt  CliildV"  relatiiijj^,  concerning  liis 
beinir  woiinded  at  Deerlield  is  as  follows — 

lie  Being  at  work  with  8  men  Sz  2  boys  Nortliward  of  the  Town, 
Capt  Wells''  working  with  a  ('onipany  of  men  farther  North M'ard 
Still  with  4  guardsmen,  Having  done  his  work  a  Little  before  me, 
came  by  and  I  Desired  him  to  wait  a  few  minutes  and  so  I  would 
go  with  him  home,  now  he  told  me  he  had  a  Little  piece  of  [workj 
to  do  in  harrow  meadow,  West  of  the  Town  Plot.  Then  I  desired 
him  to  Le/'"  inethe  guards  that  he  had  with  hitn,  of  which  two  men 
tarried,  and  i.  a  Short  Tune  we  iinished  om-  work  and  mounted  our 
horses  to  go  home  &  came  to  y*"  South  End  of  Pine  Hill  when  the 
liode  Carried  us  Close  to  the  Hill,  there  being  fired  upon  by  th-'ee 
Indians  that  were  Laid  the  Rode,  Myself  was  wounded  ^  in  both 
Shouldiers  &  in  one  finger,  which  was  so  broken  that  it  was  forced 
to  be  cutt  off  which  was  on  my  right  hand  &  y'"  same  Shouldier  the 
Ballett  going  so  far  thro  that  it  was  cutt  out  ony*^  other  Side,  which 
hpn  very  much  Disabled  my  Arm  from  ahnost  any  Serv'co:  Theic 
bf.  ng^  one  man  behind  me  at  the  same  Time,  Sam"  Allen"  by  Name, 
who  also  was  wounded  by  a  Shool  going  into  his  Buttock.  My 
horse  being  also  shoot  in  y"  Neck  made  him  Spring  forward,  so 
that  he  threw  us  both  off,  but  finding  that  wo  had  y"  use  of  our 
Leggs  soon  made  our  escape,  Calling  to  the  rest  of  y'"  men  to  face 
about,  with  y'  they  turned  and  fired  upon  y^'  Enemy.  With  that  they 
ran  doM'n  where  we  had  fallen  of  y''  horse,  and  catehed  up  Allen's 
hat.  People  being  alarmed  in  the  Town  came  out  with  great  Speed. 
The  Indians  running  aci'ost  y''  hill  passed  over  y*'  river  at  Cheap- 
side  &  soon  got  to  the  woods  with(.at  any  Damage.  Afterwards 
our  people  finding  3  packs  sui)posing  them  to  be  the  Packs  of  these 
same  Indians  which  fired  upon  us  which  were  in  Number  three. 
Finis. 

Here  is  also  an  account  of  Mr.  Atherton  in  this  paper,  which 
Levit  Childs"  somewhere  found,  Desiring  me  to  write  it -over  again, 
to  hand  it  to  you.  And  after  i  had  perused  it,  I  thought  it  not 
worth  a  while  to  Draw  it  all  over,  so  I  told  him  it  was  best  to  send 
it  down  to  you,  whereas  he  consented,  provided  I  would  write  to 
yon  &  also  desire  y*  you  would  lay  it  u])  safe,  so  that  the  person 
may  come  l)y  it  again,  for  he  sets  much  by  it,  It  being,  as  I  under- 
stand, his  father's  own  handwriting."' 

I  did  Design  also  to  take  down  another  story  from  Capt.  Wells," 


Ajypendhi. 


27 


but  he  putting  it  off  from  tiino  to  time,  lius  heeu  the  cause  of  my 
Ne^'lect;  hut  as  soon  as  he  will  attend  it  1  will  gladly  do  it.  Im 
ai)t  to  [suspect  that?]  ye  cai)t  [thinks?]  that  you  have  got  it  already, 
which  makes  him  s(j  Little  concerned  about  it.  perhaps  you  can 
Hoon  tell  whether  you  have  it  ur  no.  The  story  is  concerning  w' 
hi>i)pened  to  him  ife  his  Company  l)etween  Northfleld  cV:  Deerfield.'" 
Thus  much  Sr.  from  your  h.umble  Servn* 

EBEN^  GRANT. 
P.  S.     My  humble  service  to  M"  Williams. 

DEACON    FIELD   WOUNDED. 

August  25,- 1725,  Deacon  Sam"  Field,  Deacon  Sam"  Child,  Sergt 
Joseph'  Seavrance,  John  Wells  and  Joshua  Wells,  and  Thomas 
Bardwell,  went  over  Deerf''  river  to  goto  Green  River  Farms,'' and 
they  took  a  cow  with  them,  designing  to  put  her  in  a  pasture;  the 
iudians  ainbush''  them,  but  Deacon  Child  driving  the  cow  discover'^ 
them  and  cry''  out  Indians;  John  Wells  discharged  his  gun  at  an  In- 
dian who  fell  upon  his  fireing.  Deacon  Field  being  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  company  rode  towards  them,  but  the  company  being 
before  separated  from  one  another,  retreated  to.wards  the  mill,'"  and 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  hill  they  half,  y^John  We'ls  might 
load  his  gun,  and  then  tlu  Indians  fir''  upon  them,  and  wound"  Dea- 
c-n  Sam"  Field,  the  ball  passing  thror.gh  the  I'ight  Ilypocondria, 
cutting  off  three  plaits  of  the  mysenteria;  a  gut  hung  out  of  the 
W(iund  in  length  almost  two  inches,  which  was  cut  off"  even  with  the 
Body;  the  buUei  passing  between  the  lowest  and  the  next  rib,  cut- 
ting at  its  going  forth  part  of  the  lower  rib,  his  hand  being  close  to 
his  body  when  f  ball  came  forth,  it  entered  at  the  root  of  the  heel 
of  f  Thnud),  cutting  the  J3one  of  the  fore  linger,  resting  between 
y''  fore  and  2''  linger;  was  cut  out,  and  all  the  wounds  thro'  the  bles- 
sing of  God  upon  means  were  hea'''  in  less  than  five  weeks  by  Doc- 
tor^Thomas  Hastings,'"  whose  death  since  y"  war  is  a  great  frown  up- 
on us  &c. 

[Letter  from  Dr.'*  v:tephen  Williams  of  Longmeadow  to  President 
Wheelock*'  of  Dartmouth  Coll.] 

"L.  M.,  March  13,  1781. 

Reverand  Dear  Sr.:  M^  Smith  call"'  at  my  house  (and  s''  it  was  at 
your  desire)  and  Gave  me  anacc^  of  your  state  &'y'  of  your  counec- 
tiims  &  of  your  Seminary  &  ki.  wn  of  your  vicinity—he  appears  to 
be  an  intelligent  man—I  thank  you  y'  he  was  desired  to  call  and  to 


t 


w 


# 


Hi 


II 


38 


Appendix. 


inform  mc  of  these  things  he  did:  I  conclude  he  will  be  able  to  in- 
form  yon  of  wliat  is  remarkable  this  way  &  shall  not  pretend  to  do 
it  myself,  but  w''  inform  you  that  tliro'  Gods  great  mercy  I  do  yet 
live  &  am  able  to  preacii.  I  have  lately  sprained  my  foot  &  vras 
oblig'^  to  keep  in  liouse  seven  weeks  Sundays  y^  1  was  carri''  to  y' 
House  of  God. 

We  in  the  family  are  comfortable  &  Mrs.  W"'"  joins  me  in  re- 
spectful &  aiftionate  salutations  to  you  &  your  Hon''  mother  &  all 
in  near  relation  to  yon,  whose  w^ellfare  I  heartily  desire  and  pray 
for.     I  am  your  affectionate  humble  sev',  g,  \7, 

Write. 

P.  S.  I  would  let  you  know  tliat  Last  Sabbath  was  77  years  since 
I  was  taken  Captive.'"     My  text  was  ps.  37:5. 

Every  traveller  is  not  e([ually  intelligent  w"'  M"-  Smith,  so  I  hope 
to  hear  from  you  (or  some  of  your  connections)  by  letters,  w'^''  are 
wont  to  be  refi     r'ng  to  me.  g,  yf 

Eev.  president  Wheelock." 


X 


NOTES. 

{Referred  to  by  miinbers  in  the  text.) 

1.  This  house  was  built  for  Mr.   Williams,   by  the   inhabitants  of 

Deerfieltl,  as  part  of  the  encouragement  for  him  to  settle  among  them 

as  minister  under  the  following  vote,  passed  September,  1686: 

"  That  they  will  build  him  a  hous  : :  42  foot  long,  20  foot  wide,  with 
a  lentoo  on  the  back  side  of  the  house  and  finish  sd  house:  co  fence 
his  home  lot,  and  within  two  years  after  this  agreement  to  build  him  a 
barn."  ' 

This  house  and  barn  with  all  their  contents  were  burned.  They 
were  replaced  by  the  town  in  1707,  on  the  return  of  Mr.  Williams 
from  captivity.  Mr.  Williams  died  here  in  1729;  the  house  was  re- 
paired, about  1754,  by  his  son,  Maj.  FLlijah,  who  died  in  1771,  leaving 
it  to  his  son,  Esq.  John  Williams,  John  sold  it,  in  1789,  to  Consider 
Dickinson.  Mr.  Dickinson  died  here,  Dec.  4,  1854,  aged  94,  leaving 
the  homestead  and  other  estate  to  his  widow  Esther  (Harding).  She 
died  June  15,  1875,  aged  85.  By  her  will,  the  old  home  lot,  with  other 
prrperty,  was  devoted  to  the  establishment  of  a  free  Academy  and 
Library.  The  building  for  these  covers  part  of  the  ground  on  which 
stood  the  house  in  which  Stephen  was  born,  and  from  whence  he  was 
carried  into  captivity.  'I'he  house,  built  in  1707,  was  removed  a  few 
rods  west  of  the  new  Academy,  where  it  now  stands  in  perfect  condi- 
tion on  the  old  home  lot. 

2.  Hatfield,  twelve  miles  south.  Men  also  came  from  Hadley  and 
Northampton;  the  whole  party  numbered  about  forty,  and  were  joined 
by  about  twenty  from  Deerfield.  Of  the  nine  killed,  four  were  from 
Hadley,  three  from  Hatfield,  and  two  of  Deerfield. 

3.  This  place  is  at  the  foot  of  Leyden  hills,  very  near  the  north 
line  of  Greenfield.  The  P.  V.  M.  Association  has  secured  an  acre  of 
land  there,  and  has  placed  a  granite  monument  to  mark  the  spot  wher^ 
Mrs.  Williams  was  murdered.  This  was  dedicated  with  appropriate 
ceremonie.s,  August  12,  1884,  the  anniversary  of  her  birth. 

4-     Just  north  of  Brattleboro  village,  at  the  mouth  of  West  river. 

5.  On  the  frozen  Connecticut  river.  A  thaw  had  set  in  since  they 
left  Deerfield,  and  this  haste  was  probably  in  the  fear  of  the  breaking 
»p  of  the  river. 

6.  At  what  ir  now  Williams  river.     Stephen's  father  says,  in  The 


30 


NoUi. 


v:  ■! 


!  I  ! 


\  > 


Redeemed  Captive:  "The  enemy  who  said  to  us  sing  us  one  of  Zion's 
Songs,  were  ready,  some  of  them,  to  upbraid  us,  because  our  singinj; 
was  not  So  loud  as  theirs." 

7.  David  Hoyt,  ancestor  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  family  of  Hoyts. 
This  Cowass — i.  e.,  place  of  pines — was  near  the  mouth  of  Wells  river, 
probably  in  the  present  town  of  Newbury,  N.  H. 

8.  This  "Englishman"  was  Caleb  Lyman  of  Northampton.  He  left 
Hatfield  June  7,  1704,  with  two  Englishmen  and  five  Mohegans.  On 
the  10th,  one  Englishman  was  inj  jred  by  an  accident,  and  the  other 
turned  back  with  him.  The  rest  continued  north  until  the  enemy  was 
discovered.  On  the  night  of  the  14th,  they  surprised  a  wigwam  witii 
nine  inmates;  they  killed  four  men,  a  lad  of  14,  and  a  child  of  2. 
They  took  a  woman  captive,  and  after  obtaining  what  information  they 
could  about  the  Indians  at  Cowass,  killed  and  scalped' her.  Two  Indi 
ans  escaped,  one  badly  wounded.  With  what  plunder  he  could  gather, 
Lyman  set  out  for  home  that  night,  and  arrived  ]\.\\\ii  19,  with  six  scalps, 
and  claimed  the  bounty.  Let  us  be  thankful  that  the  baby's  scalp  was 
not  presented.  For  this  service  Lyman  secured  ,-/^?i,  and  the  five 
Mohegans  ^^50.  They  claimed  ^500  scalp-money  and  the  next  sum- 
mer, Owaneco,  son  of  Uncas,  refused  to  let  his  men  go  out,  because 
this  was  not  paid.  It  seems  that  ^40  was  given  to  them  as  a  comprtv 
misc. 

From  this  relation,  it  does  not  appear  that  the  methods  of  the  Puri 
tan  English  and  Indian  Scouts  were  any  less  '^^viige  or  merciless  than 
those  of  the  Romish  French  and  Indian  scouts. 

Lyman's  mission  was  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  things  at  Cowass. 
where  rumor  said  the  enemy  had  a  strong  fort,  from  which  incursions 
could  easily  be  made  on  our  frontiers.  This  object  was  fru.«trated  by 
this  discovery  of  the  Indians  20  miles  below.  The  important  ultimate 
result  ot  Lyman's  attack,  as  seen  in  the  text,  was  not  known  here  un 
til  the  return  of  Ensign  Sheldon,  from  Canada,  in  May,  1705.  Mean- 
while, there  was  an  active  correspondence  between  the  Governors  of 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  about  raising  300  men  in  Massachu- 
setts and  200  in  Connecticut,  who  were  to  march  to  Cowass  and  break 
up  the  nest,  where  the  hornets  whose  stings  were  felt  on  our  frontiers 
were  supposed  to  be  hatched.  This  project  was  given  up  only  when 
the  facts  were  known. 

9.  Called  by  the  Indians  Pascomuck.  Sieur  de  Montigney,  with 
about  70  French  and  Indians,  destroyed  this  hamlet.  May  11.  1704, 
and  these  were  tvv'o  of  the  captives  then  taken,  Mrs.  Bradley  was 
wife  of  Joseph  Bradley  of  Haverhill,  and  was  now  in  her  second  captivity. 

10.  Sagamore  George  was  a  chief  of  the  Pennakooks. 


I^otea. 


31 


K.  dapt.  John  Livingstone,  son  of  Robert  of  Albany.  He  was 
sent  by  Gov.  Dudley,  with  Ens.  John  Sheldon,  on  his  first  journey  to 
Canada.  Living.ston,  in  his  youth,  spent  a  year  in  the  family  of  Gov. 
Fitz-John  Winthrop  of  Connecticut,  and,  in  1701,  marriecj  Mary,  his 
only  daughter.  He  was  captain  of  a  company  in  the  service  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1704,  and  the  same  year  was  sent  by  Gov.  Dudley  as 
commissioner  to  the  Five  Nations.  His  second  wife  was  Elisabeth, 
daughterof  Mrs.  Sarah  Knight,  whose  journal  of  travel  in  NewP^ngland 
has  been  published.     He  died   in   England,  without  issue,  about  1720. 

12.  Ensign  John  Sheldon  from  Deerfield,  son  of  Isaac  of  North- 
hampton, born  Dec,  5,  1658.  He  was  the  builder  of  the  historic  "Old 
Indian  House."  This  was  the  first  of  his  three  visits  to  Canada  for 
the  redemption  of  captives.  He  went  of  his  own  motion,  but  with 
letters  from  Gov.  Dudley  and  accompanied  by  Capt.  John  Livingstone, 
and  John  W  ;lls.  He,  with  his  compaliions,  left  Deerfield  for  Canada, 
about  Dec.  24,  1 704,  on  snow  shoes,  going  by  the  way  of  Albany  and 
the  Lakes.  He  returned  the  last  of  May,  1705,  by  the  same  route,  es- 
corted by  Capt.  Courtemanche,  with  8  soldiers,  and  bringing  back  his 
two  sons— Ebenezer,  13,  and  Remembrance,  12 — ,  Hannah  (Chapin), 
the  wife  of  his  Son  John,  and  Esther,  daughter  of  John  Williams. 

With  John  Weils  of  Deerfield  and  Joseph  Bradley  of  Haverhill  as  at- 
tendants, Dudley  sent  him  again  as  a  commissioner  for  the  exchange  of 
l)risoners.  The  party  left  Deerfield  in  January,  1705-6,  by  the  old 
route  and  arrived  at  Montreal  early  in  March.  May  30,  he  took  ship- 
ping at  (Quebec,  and  arrived  at  Boston,  August  i,  1706,  with  43  re- 
leased captives,  one  of  them  his  daughter  Mary,  19  years  of  age.  The 
next  year,  Ensign  Sheldon  was  despatched  a  third  timer  He  left 
Deerfield  April  17,  1707,  with  Edward  Allen  and  Nathaniel  Brooks  of 
Deerfield,  and  F.dmund  Rice,  probably  of  Westboro,  as  attendants, 
and  reached  Quebec  May  9.  He  returned  with  seven  captives,  reach- 
ing Albany  Aug.  24,  being  escorted  by  Monsieur  de  Chambly,  with  six 
soldiers. 

13.  Doubtless,  Chateau  Richer,  now  a  place  of  2000  inhabitatls,  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  15  miles  Ijelow  Quebec. 

T4.  William,  son  of  Gov.  Dudley,  by  whom  he  was  sent  with  dis- 
patches to  Gov.  Vaudreuil,  in  a  vessel  commanded  by  Capt.  Vetch; 
Courtemanche  went  with  him. 

15.  Monsieur  Courtemanche  was  a  Canadian  of  high  rank.  He  ac- 
companied John  Livingstone  and  Ensign  Sheldon,  on  their  return  from 
Canada,  May,  1705,  being  sent  by  Vaudreuil  as  a  commissioner  for 
exchanging  capti^'es.  He  was  well  treated  by  Gen.  Dudley,  but  noth- 
ing was  accomplished  in  the  way  of  exchange  of  prisoners.     Dudley's 


82 


Kotea. 


I 


V\\ 


\}\ 


W- 


\- 


son  William  returned  io  Quebec  with  him  by  sea  in  a  vessel  under 
(!apt.  Vetch,  who  also  carried  a  hogsheatl  of  wine  as  a  present  from 
Dudley  to  Vaudreiiil. 

1 6      ('apt.  Saniiifl   V'etcii  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth.     lie  marriol 
before   1701   a  sister  of  (!apt    John  Liviiij^stone.     He  was  much  cm 
ployed  i)y  Dudley;  was  (!ol.  in  the  (!anada  expedition  of  1709;  was 
afterwards  (\o\.  of  Nova  Scotia.     He  died  in  London,  T732. 

17.  His  brother  Sauuiel,  Jonathan  Hoyt,  and  six  or  eight  others, 
whose  names  are  not  found,  came  home  in  the  same  vessel. 

18.  Hroughton  lived  on  the  site  where  Elbert  Amidon  built  thr 
house  he  now  lives  in,  ai:d  Widow  Wells  where  Jona.  Ashley  now  lives 

\().  She  was  widow  of  Lit  t.  'I'homas  Wells,  the  first  military  com- 
mander of  Deerfield.  His  commission,  signed  by  Andros,  hangs  in 
Memorial  Hall.  The  daughters  were:  Mary,  aged  21,  Sarah,  19,  and 
Hepzibah,  9.  ThE  latter  recovered,  married  John  Dickinson  of  Hat- 
field and  lived  to  be  87.  She  was  grandmother  of  Consider  Dickinson 
— our  noted  "Uncle  Sid." 

20.  Son  of  Joseph  Kcllogue,  of  Hatfield,  born,  1669. 

21.  Probably  John,  son  of  John  Holmes  of  Northampton. 

22.  Mary  Wells  and  her  mother  were  both  killed  in  the  raid  of  1 70.}; 
Mary  in  the  town,  her  mother  on  the  march. 

23.  An  Indian  named  Ashpelon  was  leader  of  the  party  which  madt 
the  attack  on  Hatfield  and  Deerfield,  Sept.  19,  1677.  This  was  prob- 
ably the  same  man,  but  he  is  not  elsewhere  noticed  in  history.   . 

?4.  The  imprisonment  of  these  Indians  was  a  stirring  event  in  the 
history  of  the  times.  There  was  great  excitement  among  the  Indians 
about  Albany,  as  well  as  among  the  Iroquois.  An  extended  correspond- 
ence followed  between  the  (Governors  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts. 

25.  Joseph  Barnard,  son  of  Francis  of  Hartford  and  Hatfield, 
was  born  in  1641,  and  settled  in  Deerfield,  where  he  was  Recorder  for 
the  Proprietors  of  the  I^edham  Grant,  and  the  first  Town  Clerk. 

26.  Where  the  road  from  the  Mill  to  the  Bars  crosses  Barnard's 
brook.     It  is  now  called  Indian  Bridge. 

27.  Capt.  Jonathan  Wells,  the  boy-hero  of  the  Turners  Falls  fight; 
he  was  son  of  Thomas  of  Wethersfield  and  Hatfield,  born  1659,  died  at 
Deerfield,  1739,  where  he  was  for  many  years  Military  Commander 
and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

28.  Mr.  Belding's  house  stood  on  the  lot  next  north  of  tlte  Pocum- 
tuck  House,  which  was  sold  to  Joseph  Stebbins,  in  1761.  Belding 
came  back  and  died  here  in  1731. 


Note>i. 


83 


29.  Ai  the  foot  of  Meeting-house  Hili,  where  Grange  Hall  and 
l>hilo  Munn's  shop  stand,  the  land  lay  low,  and  a  brook  ran  across  the 
street  which  was  crossed  by  the  bridge  mentioned  in  the  text. 

30.  Rev.  John  Williams.  There  was  no  surgeon  or  doctor  then 
living  here.  It  was  (luite  common  for  the  ministers  of  early  times  to 
practice  chirurgery  and  medicine  among  their  people. 

Samuel    fielding  was  9  years  old  at  this   time.     He  lived  in 


3'' 
Deerfield  until  his  death,  Dec.  14,  1750. 

Williams  an  account  of  the  attack. 


He  doubtless  gave  S»^ephen 


32.  Oso  fort,  as  it  was  called  by  the  Deerfield  captives,  has  recently 
been  identified  by  Miss  C.  Alice  Baker  as  that  of  the  Mission  of  Sault 
ail  kecollet. 

33.  Col.  Peter  Schuyler  was  the  distinguished  mayor  of  Albany. 
He  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Indian-  affairs  and  often  gave  sea- 
sonable notice  of  intended  raids,  on  our  fronti-r.  V  warning  letter 
was  sent  to  Deerfield  in  1 703.  He  was  a  personal  friend  of  Rev. 
John  Williams,  and  there  is  a  tradition,  or  story,  abroad  that  he  caused 
the  portrait  of  Mr.  Williams  to  be  painted  at  Albany.  This  "tradition" 
may  have  originated  in  the  fertile  brain  of  'lev.Elcaser  Williams,  of  "St, 
Regis  Bell"  and  the  "Dauphin"  fame. 

34.  Martin  Smith  was  among  the  first  settlers  at  Deerfield,  being 
here  in  1673;  he  was  captured  by  Indians  at  Wapping,  Oct.  13,  1693; 
returned  Dec,  1698;  perished  in  the  disaster  of  Feb.  29,  1703-4. 

35.  Clesson  was  captured  by  De  Rouville,  June  22,  1709.  He  was 
son  of  Mathew  of  Norrhampton,,  who  is  said  to  have  come  from  Ire- 
land. Joseph  settled  at  Deerfield,  where  he  was  a  prominent  military 
man;  -was  a  lieutenant  in  Father  Ralle's  War;  a  captain  in  the  last 
French  war,  and  died  June  4.  1 753.  aged  abou'  70. 

36.  Benj.  Wright  was  son  of  Samuel  of  Northampton  and  North- 
field,  born,  1660;  was  a  famous  partisan  officer;  he  died,  1743. 

37.  Timothy  Childs,  son  of  Richard  of  Barn.stable,  born  Sept.  22, 
1686.  He  settled  in  Deerfield;  married  Widow  Hannah  Sheldon,  one 
of  the  Deerfield  captives.  They  were  ancestors  of  the  Pittsfield  fam- 
ily of  Childs.     He  died  Feb.  20,  1776. 

38.  Jonathan  Hoyt  was  one  of  the  Deerfield  captives  who  came 
back  with  Stephen  Williams.  He  was  afterward  active  in  the  Indian 
wars,  und  was  commander  of  the  fort  in  Deerfield,  1746.  His  Indian 
master  often  visited  him  at  Deerfield.  He  was  born  April  6,  1688,  and 
died  May  23,  1779. 


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39.  Capt.  Thomas  Baker  of  Northampton.  He  was  born  about 
1683,  and  died  in  1 753.  He  was  one  of  the  captives  taken  at  Deerfield, 
Feb.  29,  1704,  and  one  of  four  who  escaped  and  reached  home  in  June, 
1705.  In  1714,  he  leil  the  party  which  escorted  John  Stoddard  and 
Rev.  John  Williams  to  Canada,  as  Massachusetts  (!ommissioners  to 
treat  for  the  return  of  prisoners;  while  there,  occurred  the  romantic 
episode  of  his  marriage  to  Madam  Le  Beau,  nee  Mai,^aret  Otis,  which 
is  so  fully  and  so  well  treated  by  Miss  C.  Alice  Baker,  in  her  paper  be- 
fore the  P.  V.  M.  Association,  upon  Christina  Otis. 

40.  Brother  of  Stephen  Williams.  He  was  born  Jan.  24,  1689-90; 
was  a  captive  of  1704:  was  leader  of  a  party  escorting  French  prisoners 
from  Deerfield  to  Canada  in  17 12;  was  elected  Town  Clerk  in  April, 
1713,  and  died  June  30,  of  the  same  year. 

41.  Kellogg,  was  son  of  Martin,  born  in  1686;  was  a  captive  of 
1704,  and  escaped  in  June,  1704,  with  Thos.  Baker,  John  Nims  and 
Joseph  Pettee;  was  taken  again  in  1708.  He  learned  the  language  of 
the  Indians  and  the  French.  On  his  return,  he  was  employed  as  inter- 
preter, and  in  that  capacity  was  sent  with  Stoddard  and  Williams  to 
Canada  in  1714;  was  teacher  of  Indian  boys  under  the  Hollis  Fund. 
He  died  Nov,  30,  1743.  His  brother  Joseph  and  sister  Rebecca — cap- 
tives, i  704 — ,were  also  employed  by  the  goverment  as  teachers  and  inter- 
preters. Joanna,  another  sister,  married  an  Indian,  at  Cagnawaga;  and 
never  returned. 

42.  One  of  them  since  called  Bakers  river. 

43.  They  were  Connecticut  soldiers,  under  Sergt.  Thomas  Taylor. 

44.  He  was  killed  by  Indians,  while  bravely  defending  his  children 
f«*om  the  Indians,  at  the  Bars  fight,  August  25,  1 746. 

.  45.  Rev.  Hope  Atherton,  minister  of  Hatfield,  i^on  of  Gen.  Humphrey 
Atherton,  born,  1646,  died  June  8,  1677.  He  was  chaplain  in  the  Tur- 
ners F'alls  expedition,  and  wrote  -in  account  of  his  singular  experience 
with  the  Indians,  after  being  lo"^*  from  the  command  in  the  retreat. 
This,  without  doubt,  is  the  pap'i    referred  to  here. 

Another  paper  hafi  been  discovered,  refering  to  this  same  document, 
which  is  given  here,  in  hopes  that  it  may  afford  a  clue  through  which 
some  interested  person  shall  recover  the  original  narration,  or  a  copy. 

Henry  R.  Stiles,  M.  D.,  from  No.  i,  Wall  St.,  N.  Y.,  writes  Sylvester 
Judd,  Sept.  19,  1857,  giving  him  a  copy  of  a  letter  sent  to  Pres- 
ident Stiles,  his  father,  by  Rev.  Stephen  Williams.  With  Williams's 
letter  was  a  copy  of  the  paper  drawn  up  by  Hope  Atherton  in  regard 
to  his  own  adventures  after  the  Falls  fight;  this  paper  was  given  Will- 


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86 


iaiTij,  by  the  only  son  of    Alherton;  the  copy  was  returned  to  Judd. 

WlllTf   IS   it? 

Stephen  Williams  writes  President  Stiles,  June  8,  1781:  "Jonathan 
Wt'lls  himself  told  me  that  the  Itidians  told  him  that  after  the  Falls 
fight,  that  a  little  man  in  a  blaf k  <:tat,  and  without  any  hat,  came 
towards  them,  but  they  were  afraid  and  ran  from  them  [him?J  thinking 
it  was  the  Englishman's  (3od." 

40.  The  fight,  or  rather  massacre,  at  Pcskeompskut,  or  Turners 
I  alls.  May  19,  1676. 

47.  In  the  northwesterly  part  of  Greenfield,  now  called  Greenfield 
Mtvidows. 

4S.  The  mill  referred  to  was  on  the  site  of  the  present  Green  River 
mill,  which  has  been  so  occupied  since  1715. 

49.  Hastings  was  a  man  of  note  in  his  day,  living  in  Hatheld,  where 
he  was  born,  Sept.  24,  1679,  and  died  Ai)ril  14,  1728.  A  woeful  elegy 
on  his  death,  lamenting  this  public  loss,  can  be  seen  in  Memorial  Hall. 
TluTe  was  no  doctor  in  Deerfield  for  more  than  fifty  years  after  the 
first  settlement. 

50.  Williams  received  the  honorary  degree  of  O.  H.  from  Dart- 
iiKHith,  in  1773. 

51.  John  Wheelock,  LLD.,  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Ct.,  Jan.  28, 
1754;  was  graduated  from  Dartmouth  in  the  first  class,  in  1773;  was 
piom'inent  in  the  first  half  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  both  in  military 
and  civil  service.  His  father  was  the  first  president  of  I)art:nouth  and 
tiic  son  succeeded  him  in  that  office  at  the  age  of  25, 

52.  At  the  date  of  this  letter.  Dr.  Williams  was  in  his  87th  year, 
and  had  been  preaching  66  years. 


